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Obama facing tough selling job on Afghan policy

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-01 05:01

Remarks by Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, were a preview of the possible roadblocks as the president begins to sell a broader, more expensive battle plan for Afghanistan to an American public weary of the conflict.

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Greater numbers of Afghan army and police are central to succeeding in the war, according to Levin, and more US trainers and an infusion of battlefield gear will help meet that goal. But Levin said that it's not clear what role the tens of thousands of additional US combat troops would play in that buildup, and he said Obama has to make a compelling case for it on Tuesday.

"The key here is an Afghan surge, not an American surge," Levin said. "We cannot, by ourselves, win (the) war."

The Washington Post reported Monday that Obama had sent a letter to Zardari saying the US planned no early withdrawal from Afghanistan and will increase its military and economic cooperation with Pakistan. The Post, quoting unidentified administration officials, also said that Obama called for closer collaboration against extremist groups, including five named in the letter.

At West Point, Obama was expected to announce an increase of up to 35,000 more US forces to defeat the Taliban-led insurgency and stabilize a weak Afghan government. The escalation, which would take place over the next year, would put more than 100,000 American troops in Afghanistan at an annual cost of about $75 billion.

Obama is also expected to outline an exit strategy for the war.

Democrats concerned over the price tag have proposed a war tax to pay for operations. Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has introduced legislation to impose a war surtax beginning in 2011. The bill would exempt service members and their families.

"If this war is important enough to engage in the long term, it's important enough to pay for," Obey said.

McChrystal wants an overall Afghan security force of 400,000 - 240,000 soldiers and 160,000 police officers - by October 2013.

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