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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Afghanistan Push Meets Resistance —From Democrats

Levin, Pelosi object to troop buildup; Obama weighs options

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(Newser) – Support for the war in Afghanistan is dwindling among Democrats as President Obama mulls increasing US involvement in the region, the New York Times reports. Ahead of an expected request for more troops from the US commander in the country, the chair of the Senate armed services committee says he’s opposed to the idea until the US can more quickly build Afghanistan’s own forces.

Carl Levin holds that the Afghan Army, which aims to reach 134,000 troops by next year, should expand to 240,000 by 2012, with a simultaneous expansion of police forces. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi predicts a struggle for the president if he looks to boost troop numbers. “I don’t think there is a great deal of support for sending more troops to Afghanistan in the country or in Congress,” the House speaker says.

Afghan army soldiers and police tour the site where villagers reportedly died when American jets bombed fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban, outside Kunduz, Afghanistan, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Afghan army soldiers and police tour the site where villagers reportedly died when American jets bombed fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban, outside Kunduz, Afghanistan, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
President Barack Obama walks from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington,Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, to talk about the Afghanistan election.
President Barack Obama walks from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington,Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, to talk about the Afghanistan election.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, left, commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, visits the site where villagers reportedly died when US jets bombed Taliban-hijacked fuel tankers, Sept. 5, 2009.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, left, commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, visits the site where villagers reportedly died when US jets bombed Taliban-hijacked fuel tankers, Sept. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
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8 comments
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odowd80
Sep 11, 09 9:26 AM CDT
Good. Afghanistan is a lost cause. We should commit the absolute minimum it takes to keep the Taliban from taking over Pakistan and accessing its nukes. Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
godawgs
Sep 11, 09 9:50 AM CDT
if we do that we will be stuck in Afghanistan for a longer period of time. Might as well go in and take care of business now rather then drag it out.
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IN RESPONSE:
odowd80
Sep 11, 09 10:36 AM CDT
Unfortunately we don't have the capability or the resources to "take care of business" or we would have done it already. This is a losing proposition.
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
Forderon
Sep 11, 09 11:40 AM CDT
Why do Republicans never ask questions about the cost of fighting wars but every other issue is an assault on the dollar to them?
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
emptycalm
Sep 11, 09 11:49 AM CDT
How would we protect pakistan without being in afganistan?
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