Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) says Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s recommendation for a change of strategy in Afghanistan “hit the nail on the head.” (0:17)
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) states that deploying additional troops in Afghanistan will not result in sustainable gains without security, civilian and governance capacity. (0:19)
President of the New America Foundation Steve Coll testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday and said that the lack of resources and soldiers in Afghanistan when the U.S. entered led to the “crisis that now confronts the Obama administration.” (0:50)
By Meagan Wiseley – University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service
In a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday, expert witnesses agreed that the U.S. should neither abandon Afghanistan or substantially increase U.S. military forces in Afghanistan in regard to a stable Pakistan.
Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. said, “a precipitous withdrawal would repeat the strategic mistake of the 1990s when the U.S. abandoned Afghanistan to the chaos that nurtured al-Qaida. Nor should the West risk being trapped in a Vietnam style quagmire, a war without end and with no guarantee of success.”
Steve Coll, President of the New America Foundation proposed a strategy that falls between withdrawal and militarization.
“It would make clear that the Taliban will never be permitted to take power by force in Kabul or major cities. It would seek and enforce stability in Afghan population centers, emphasize politics over combat, urban stability over rural patrolling, Afghan solutions over Western ones and it would incorporate Pakistan more directly into creative and persistent diplomatic efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and the region”, said Coll.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act, which Congress passed earlier this year, that will triple non-military assistance to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year for the next five years.
Committee Chairman Kerry noted that “[U.S.] actions in Afghanistan will influence events in Pakistan and we must take that into account. But the ultimate choices about the country’s future will be made by the Pakistanis themselves.”
At a hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) said, “the U.S. must remain engaged in helping the Afghan people resolve the many difficult issues facing their country.” (0:12)
By Meagan Wiseley – University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service
Dr. Clare Lockhart, Co-Founder and Director of the Institute of State Effectiveness, spoke out in favor of a civilian surge, which would indicate massive support from the Afghan people, in Afghanistan Thursday during an appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
According to Lockhart, a civilian surge can be achieved in Afghanistan by enabling Afghans to exercise self rule through the creation of civil institutions.
“[These institutions will provide the] framework needed to stabilize Afghanistan,” said Lockhart.
Lockhart added that this move would be an essential step to achieving an eventual exit.
Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) emphasized the importance of a winning civilian strategy in Afghanistan.
“I have said repeatedly that we will not force the surrender of the Taliban by military force alone. Therefore, any strategy that lacks a strong civilian component is doomed,” said Kerry.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill said during his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that while U.S. troops are slated to slowly leave Iraq, the U.S. still needs to maintain effective relations with the country. (0:36)
By Mariko Lamb – Talk Radio News Service
Major General Scott Gration, a U.S. special envoy to Sudan, discussed a comprehensive strategy for that nation in preparation of UNAMID’s 2011 peace referendum and Sudan’s April 2010 elections.
“We want a country that is governed responsibly, justly, democratically, a country that’s at peace with itself and its neighbors, that’s economically viable, a country that works together with the United States in common interests,” Gration said in an address to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday.
In order to meet these objectives, “we need some space on sanctions,” he said, calling on Congress to help lift sanctions that restrict access to certain Sudanese ports. Such sanctions, he said, block access of trains carrying essential equipment and personnel for health care and education. They “are hindering me from being able to bring development to the south,” he added.
Gration said he believes that by establishing an environment that helps leaders in the north and south of Sudan reach twelve areas of agreement of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the U.S. can help Sudan reach a major milestone on the road to peace. “We created the environment so that the two parties, NCP and SBLN, could make the agreements,” Gration explained.
“It’s getting significantly better, but that doesn’t mean that we need to stop our efforts,” he said.
In addition to lifting sanctions, “we need more people,” Gration said. He recently requested three additional full-time employees from the U.S. State Department of State to assist him in fostering peace in Sudan.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki assures the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that U.S. troops are no longer needed in Iraq. “Iraqi troops were able to maintain security and law and order, and this is a result of joint efforts,” he says. (0:30)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen said in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Thursday that the U.S. has a tough road ahead in reestablishing its relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also explains the need for patience in doing so. (3:24)
