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Levin: U.S. surge in Afghanistan a bad idea

A key senator said Friday that he does not support a surge of U.S. troops into Afghanistan — at least not until a major effort is made to improve the size and capabilities of Afghan police and security forces.

“We need a surge of Afghan forces,” said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “We have not done nearly enough to put that in motion.”

In a speech on the Senate floor and in a news conference later, Levin said the first steps should be to increase the number of trainers and shift equipment and supplies from Iraq to Afghanistan to aid police and security.

Levin’s overall assessment, based on a recent visit to Central Asia, is that things are not going well.

“The situation in Afghanistan is serious,” he said. “Security has deteriorated.”

His remarks come as the Obama administration is considering U.S. Central Command recommendations that are widely believed to call for a dramatic increase in U.S. troops, similar to the surge that is generally credited with providing enough stability in Iraq so that U.S. troops could pull out of major cities and leave day-to-day security operations to Iraqis.

Congressional aides, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the White House has given indications it will support the requested troops increase.

But Levin’s statement, and remarks Thursday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are signs that the administration could face a tough time selling rank-and-file Democrats on the idea. Pelosi said she doesn’t see a lot of support for a buildup of U.S. troops in Afghanistan among either the American public or House Democrats.

Some opposition was expected. Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., a fierce opponent of the Iraq surge, said a possible buildup in Afghanistan would be “the worst thing our nation can do right now.”

“We should not double-down on a strategy that has not worked,” she said Thursday.

Levin is a moderate Democrat who had doubts about the overall Iraq strategy but generally supported the troop surge.

He said he discussed his concerns about troop increases with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, who appeared to share the view that improving Afghan security capabilities provides the best chance of success.

That is not the same as endorsing Levin’s call to hold off on troop increases, however.

Republicans generally are lining up in support of an Afghan surge. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond, R-Mo., said Friday that that “finishing the job in Afghanistan and defeating the terrorists who are bent on death and destruction” is the best way to honor the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Bond said the Afghan army does need to expand, but more U.S. troops and resources also are needed.

“It is critical that ... Republicans support President Obama in the fight against terrorists,” Bond said.