Whisper
January 31st, 2008, 08:35 PM
WASHINGTON - American senators raised alarms Thursday about the state of the Afghanistan war, saying NATO is in danger of losing, a new strategy is urgently required and the United States should provide more troops and equipment.
During two hours of questioning at a committee hearing, senators from both parties grilled administration officials who argued there's been a lot of progress since the war against the Taliban and al-Qaida began after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
"No one can tell me that Afghanistan is not going in the right direction," said Richard Boucher, an assistant secretary of state, who cited new roads, electricity, police and other amenities where there were none before.
But he faced widespread skepticism from the senators, who said violence is way up, more soldiers are dying, the poppy trade is flourishing and many of the Afghan police officers getting trained end up being crooked.
"We cannot afford to fail in Afghanistan," said Republican Senator Norm Coleman. "The mission is faltering."
"We need a significant change in policy now," said Senator Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former Democratic presidential contender.
Biden called for a "significantly" greater American investment of troops and aid in Afghanistan, which has amounted to about $25 billion so far.
At the hearing attended by Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson, Biden thanked Canada for its "herculean effort" and noted that only the United States and Britain have lost more troops.
To date, 78 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan.
"I'm sure it has political repercussions at home," he said. "We don't always tell you, but our gratitude for your country is immense."
But in Ottawa, NDP Leader Jack Layton argued Thursday that there's no point in continuing to fight an unwinnable war, in his most emphatic statements yet on the subject.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has endorsed the broad recommendations of the John Manley panel, which said Canada should stay in Afghanistan indefinitely as long as NATO provides more equipment and 1,000 additional combat troops in the dangerous southern region. The alliance is considering Canada's request.
The problem, said Biden, is that the United States hasn't made success in Afghanistan a priority while it concentrates on Iraq.
"We've spent about as much on development and aid in Afghanistan over the past five years ... as we spend on the war in Iraq every three weeks."
Coleman said: "We're a great nation and we should be able to, you know, walk and chew gum at the same time. We have to do both right."
"I think it's an indisputable fact that we have missed opportunities in Afghanistan because of what is happening in Iraq."
Republican co-chairman Richard Lugar wasn't much happier about the status of the war.
"The overall situation in Afghanistan remains grave," he said.
"Democratic institutions are fragile and the government does not control significant regions of the country. A massive drug trade funds the Taliban which, despite setbacks, sees to be able to regenerate its ranks."
The United States is sending 3,200 more marines to Afghanistan in March, 2,200 of them to the dangerous southern area. It's also trying to convince European allies to contribute more to the mission.
"Does anyone truly believe that it's enough to turn the tide?" asked Biden.
If the situation is so positive, said Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, then "why are we to a breaking point in NATO over this issue - consequently the Canadian ambassador is in the front row, listening to this."
Democrat John Kerry said: "The point is not that it has failed but that it is moving in the wrong direction."
A report released this week by NATO's former commander said allied forces in Afghanistan are in a "strategic stalemate" as Taliban insurgents expand their control of sparsely populated areas and the Afghan government fails to carry out vital reforms and reconstruction.
"Make no mistake, NATO is not winning in Afghanistan," said the report by the Atlantic Council of the United States chaired by retired Gen. James Jones.
"Afghanistan remains a failing state. It could become a failed state," said the report, which called for "urgent action" to overhaul strategy before another spring offensive by the Taliban.
Jones told the senators Thursday that it's certainly possible to win in Afghanistan.
But he said it will take more international momentum to solve the narcotics problem, a lot of judicial and police reform, holding the Afghan government to performance standards and dealing with neighbouring Pakistan where al-Qaida terrorists are holed up.
Thomas Pickering, a former undersecretary of state for political affairs, said it may be an understatement to say Afghanistan is at a "critical crossroads."
"Six years of progress is under serious threat from resurgent violence, weakening international resolve, mounting regional challenges and a growing lack of confidence on the part of the people and the country."
During two hours of questioning at a committee hearing, senators from both parties grilled administration officials who argued there's been a lot of progress since the war against the Taliban and al-Qaida began after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
"No one can tell me that Afghanistan is not going in the right direction," said Richard Boucher, an assistant secretary of state, who cited new roads, electricity, police and other amenities where there were none before.
But he faced widespread skepticism from the senators, who said violence is way up, more soldiers are dying, the poppy trade is flourishing and many of the Afghan police officers getting trained end up being crooked.
"We cannot afford to fail in Afghanistan," said Republican Senator Norm Coleman. "The mission is faltering."
"We need a significant change in policy now," said Senator Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former Democratic presidential contender.
Biden called for a "significantly" greater American investment of troops and aid in Afghanistan, which has amounted to about $25 billion so far.
At the hearing attended by Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson, Biden thanked Canada for its "herculean effort" and noted that only the United States and Britain have lost more troops.
To date, 78 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan.
"I'm sure it has political repercussions at home," he said. "We don't always tell you, but our gratitude for your country is immense."
But in Ottawa, NDP Leader Jack Layton argued Thursday that there's no point in continuing to fight an unwinnable war, in his most emphatic statements yet on the subject.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has endorsed the broad recommendations of the John Manley panel, which said Canada should stay in Afghanistan indefinitely as long as NATO provides more equipment and 1,000 additional combat troops in the dangerous southern region. The alliance is considering Canada's request.
The problem, said Biden, is that the United States hasn't made success in Afghanistan a priority while it concentrates on Iraq.
"We've spent about as much on development and aid in Afghanistan over the past five years ... as we spend on the war in Iraq every three weeks."
Coleman said: "We're a great nation and we should be able to, you know, walk and chew gum at the same time. We have to do both right."
"I think it's an indisputable fact that we have missed opportunities in Afghanistan because of what is happening in Iraq."
Republican co-chairman Richard Lugar wasn't much happier about the status of the war.
"The overall situation in Afghanistan remains grave," he said.
"Democratic institutions are fragile and the government does not control significant regions of the country. A massive drug trade funds the Taliban which, despite setbacks, sees to be able to regenerate its ranks."
The United States is sending 3,200 more marines to Afghanistan in March, 2,200 of them to the dangerous southern area. It's also trying to convince European allies to contribute more to the mission.
"Does anyone truly believe that it's enough to turn the tide?" asked Biden.
If the situation is so positive, said Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, then "why are we to a breaking point in NATO over this issue - consequently the Canadian ambassador is in the front row, listening to this."
Democrat John Kerry said: "The point is not that it has failed but that it is moving in the wrong direction."
A report released this week by NATO's former commander said allied forces in Afghanistan are in a "strategic stalemate" as Taliban insurgents expand their control of sparsely populated areas and the Afghan government fails to carry out vital reforms and reconstruction.
"Make no mistake, NATO is not winning in Afghanistan," said the report by the Atlantic Council of the United States chaired by retired Gen. James Jones.
"Afghanistan remains a failing state. It could become a failed state," said the report, which called for "urgent action" to overhaul strategy before another spring offensive by the Taliban.
Jones told the senators Thursday that it's certainly possible to win in Afghanistan.
But he said it will take more international momentum to solve the narcotics problem, a lot of judicial and police reform, holding the Afghan government to performance standards and dealing with neighbouring Pakistan where al-Qaida terrorists are holed up.
Thomas Pickering, a former undersecretary of state for political affairs, said it may be an understatement to say Afghanistan is at a "critical crossroads."
"Six years of progress is under serious threat from resurgent violence, weakening international resolve, mounting regional challenges and a growing lack of confidence on the part of the people and the country."