McCain: big troop buildup needed in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says President Barack Obama will make a huge error if he does not substantially increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
The Arizona senator, who was Obama’s Republican opponent for the White House last fall, said it is folly to think the Taliban can be allowed to grow stronger in Afghanistan without benefiting al-Qaida, the terrorist network that attacked the United States in 2001.
“They will become inextricably tied,” McCain told CNN’s “State of the Union” in an interview for broadcast Sunday.
McCain said he sympathized with Obama, who faces a difficult choice about Afghanistan troop levels and whether to focus the fighting more narrowly on terrorists or more broadly on Taliban insurgents.
McCain said he did not think the United States can win in Afghanistan unless Obama sends at least 40,000 more troops to augment the 68,000 now there. He agreed with those who see 40,000 new troops as the desire of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, although McChrystal gave Obama a range of options.
To reject the advice of those who say a significantly larger U.S. presence is needed, McCain said, “would be an error of historic proportions.”
McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, also said he didn’t think the Obama administration was “trying to muzzle” McChrystal from speaking out about his war-fighting approach. “He certainly understands that the chain of command has to be observed. But also, at the same time, since he has responsibility, I think he should be consulted very heavily and frequently.”
McCain said the corruption in Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s government “has got to stop.” He said Karzai’s brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, accused by some of drug trafficking, should leave the country.
Separately, the head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan acknowledged on Sunday there was “widespread fraud” in the August presidential election, but refused to give specifics or lay blame to avoid influencing the recount.
McCain’s interview was conducted Friday, a few hours after Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize and a few hours before Obama assembled his war council to hear military officials make their case for tens of thousands of additional troops to target al-Qaida.
“I still think we’re probably several weeks away,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters before the meeting.
White House discussions have sharpened the mission’s focus to fighting al-Qaida above all other goals and downgraded the emphasis on defeating the Taliban, a senior administration official who participated in the discussions said Thursday. The official was authorized to talk to The Associated Press but not to be identified because the discussions were private.
Under the evolving strategy, the official said, the U.S. would fight only to keep the Taliban from retaking control of Afghanistan’s central government and from turning the country back into the sanctuary for al-Qaida that it was before the 2001 invasion.
McCain said the Taliban are “the most cruel and oppressive and repressive people” and that it would be “very distasteful to see them in power anywhere.” Asked whether the U.S. policy for Afghanistan should mean trying to integrate some Taliban, McCain said, “Part of the strategy will clearly be that.”
A focus on al-Qaida is the driving force behind an approach being advocated by Vice President Joe Biden as an alternative to the McChrystal recommendation for a fuller counterinsurgency effort inside Afghanistan.
Biden has argued for keeping the American force level around the 68,000 already authorized, which includes the 21,000 extra troops Obama ordered this year. The vice president proposes significantly increasing the use of unmanned drones and special operations forces.
McCain said a “counterterrorism strategy” that relies heavily on intelligence and narrowly targeted missile strikes failed in Iraq and will fail in Afghanistan.
- Guns quit on US troops during intense battle in Afghanistan that left 9 dead, study says
- At least 14 die, dozens hurt as series of bombings rock Anbar province, Iraq officials say
- At least 12 die, dozens injured as double bombings rock Anbar province, say Iraq officials
- 19 die as Pakistan Army HQ siege ends, 39 hostages freed (Roundup)
- At least 12 killed, dozens injured as double bombings rock Anbar province, say Iraq officials
- Clinton says terrorists 'increasing threat' to Pakistan, warns Iran on nuclear program
- IRA splinter group Irish National Liberation Army says it's renouncing violence, will disarm
- Iraqi officials: At least 10 killed, dozens injured as double bombings rock Anbar province
| |
Related News
Sen. McCain says US Afghan policy must be based on proposition Taliban, al-Qaida, are alliesOctober 6th, 2009 McCain: Al-Qaida, Taliban must be seen as partnersWASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says Obama administration policy decisions in Afghanistan shouldn't be based on viewing the insurgent Taliban and the al-Qaida terrorist network as separate and distinct issues.
US pullout from Afghanistan would be 'disastrous': MusharrafOctober 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf says it would be "disastrous" for the United States to pull out of Afghanistan now, according to a media report. The Americans need to prepare for the likelihood that more US troops will be needed in Afghanistan and that they will be there many years, he told Des Moines Register in Iowa.
3 US troops killed in attacks in eastern Afghanistan, including 2 in firefight with militantsOctober 3rd, 2009 3 US troops killed in attacks in east AfghanistanKABUL — The military says three U.S. troops have died in attacks in eastern Afghanistan, including two killed in a firefight with militants.
McCain: Obama should not delay sending more US troops to AfghanistanSeptember 23rd, 2009 McCain: More troops needed in AfghanistanWASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says more U.S.
Joint Chiefs chairman says Afghanistan remains vulnerable to takeover by extremist forcesAugust 23rd, 2009 Mullen worried over public support for Afghan warWASHINGTON — The U.S. military's top uniformed officer expressed concern Sunday about eroding public support for the war in Afghanistan and said the country remains vulnerable to being taken over again by extremist forces.
McCain: Afghanistan needs Petraeus' Iraq approach, enough troops to 'clear and hold'August 23rd, 2009 McCain: Afghanistan needs Petraeus' Iraq approachWASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain said he wants the military leadership in Afghanistan to use the same aggressive approach that Gen.
Top US military officer describes situation in Afghanistan as 'serious and deteriorating'August 23rd, 2009 Mullen: Afghan fight 'serious and deteriorating'WASHINGTON — The top U.S. military officer described the situation in Afghanistan as "serious and deteriorating," but refused to say Sunday whether defeating a resilient enemy would require more than the 68,000 American troops already committed.
Taliban needs to be beaten to stop another 9/11, says ObamaAugust 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has warned that the Taliban must be defeated in Afghanistan to avoid another 9/11-style attack. Obama was addressing veterans in Phoenix, Arizona, in the run-up to the presidential elections in Afghanistan later this week.
McCain calls for more US troops in Afghanistan, suggests doubling Marines in violent provinceAugust 18th, 2009 McCain calls for more US troops in AfghanistanKABUL — Sen. John McCain called Tuesday for more American troops in Afghanistan, saying that doubling the number of Marines in one southern region could lead to "significantly more success."
The former Republican presidential candidate, along with other members of a visiting congressional delegation, also said that Afghanistan's elections this week were a milestone event, but that the U.S.
McCain says additional troops may be needed in Afghanistan, waits for commanders' assessmentAugust 2nd, 2009 McCain says US may need more troops in AfghanistanWASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says it appears that the U.S.
2 NATO troops killed, 6 wounded in southern Afghanistan blastJuly 1st, 2009 2 NATO troops killed in AfghanistanKABUL — NATO said an explosion Wednesday in southern Afghanistan killed two of its troops and wounded six others. The military alliance did not reveal the troops' nationalities or the exact location of the blast.
Al-Qaida leader in Afghanistan says militants are short on fundsJune 11th, 2009 Afghanistan al-Qaida leader says group needs cashCAIRO — Al-Qaida's top commander in Afghanistan urged Turkish Muslims in a new audio message to send money to militants fighting coalition troops in the country, saying they are low on funds. Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed said many militants in Afghanistan are unable to fight because they lack the necessary equipment.
Two British troops killed in AfghanistanMay 31st, 2009 LONDON - Two British soldiers died in an explosion during a military operation in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the British defence ministry announced here late Saturday.
British forces have suffered 165 troops since entering the battle against the Taliban militant movement in October 2001.
Petraeus says al-Qaida not operating in Afghanistan, but affiliated groups have sanctuariesMay 10th, 2009 Petraeus: al-Qaida not operating in AfghanistanWASHINGTON — The chief of the U.S. Central Command says al-Qaida no longer is operating in Afghanistan.
McCain criticises Obama, says sending more troops 'not enough'March 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Senator John McCain has denounced President Barack Obama's new plan for sending additional troops to Afghanistan, saying it was "not enough" and suggested the President ought to have been clearer that there will be more troop casualties. The Arizona Republican, who contested against Obama last year, said he was glad the President put the issue "front and center," but is worried that Obama hadn't offered a realistic enough picture of the likely increase in casualties that can be expected with the surge of troops.
Loading ...