Skelton on Afghanistan
Posted: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:35 PM by firstread
Filed Under:
White House, Security, Luke Russert
from NBC's Luke Russert and Ali Weinberg
House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton (D-MO) reaffirmed his support for General Stanley McChrystal's recommendation for a 40,000 troop increase in Afghanistan today, as President Obama meets today for a fifth time with his military advisers on devising a new strategy.
Speaking at a hearing on Afghanistan, Skelton said, "General McChrystal's recent assessment presents a sober, serious view of the situation in Afghanistan and the challenges we face," Skelton said. "He also presents one possible way forward, a fully resourced, population-centric counter-insurgency campaign that would protect the population, build the Afghan security forces, and work to improve the government. As my colleagues know, I am a strong supporter of this approach."
Video:
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright explains with President Obama has yet to make a decision on troop deployment to AfghanistanSkelton's support for McChrystal's plan puts him at odds with his counterpart, Senate Armed Services Chairman
Carl Levin (D-MI), who favors a focus on strengthening Afghan troops by sending in 2,000 to 3,000 American trainers. Skelton acknowledged suggestions by Levin and others that go against the McChrystal plan.
"Others disagree however," Skelton said. "We can find sober and serious people who advise that we risk getting bogged down in an unwinnable war and that focusing on capturing and killing al Qaeda leadership is the right approach. Others suggest that our primary mission should be to train and equip more Afghan security forces and that we should not add U.S. troops to the 68,000 already there or on the way."
Skelton referenced the approval in key House and Senate committees, including his own, that any new Afghanistan plan will need: "I believe [President Obama] feels the same sense of urgency we all feel, and I hope we can all support his desire to make sure we get Afghanistan right. Congress, however, will also ultimately be involved in this decision," Skelton said.
