Karzai role clouds U.S. troops decisions

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Uncertainty about Afghan leadership will complicate Washington's decision on whether to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, a key lawmaker said.

Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Thursday questions about whether the United States will continue to have a reliable partner in Afghan President Hamid A Karzai, who is expected to face a runoff election, is "one of the really great problems that we have to solve," The Washington Post reported.

Levin has expressed skepticism about sending tens of thousands of additional American troops to Afghanistan.

His comments come as top White House advisers question the need for a dramatic increase in U.S. combat troops to fight al-Qaida and its allies in Afghanistan.

Some of those officials have started pushing for a strategy shift that would mean sending few new combat troops while relying instead on faster training of Afghan forces, continued targeting of al-Qaida leaders and support for Pakistan in its battle against the Taliban.

Levin estimated speeding and expanding growth of the Afghan army and police forces would require 3,000 to 4,000 additional U.S. military trainers. That figure squares with an earlier estimate by Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Obama administration, Levin said, can demonstrate "resolve" on Afghanistan by building up Afghan forces, providing them more equipment and hastening reconciliation efforts with the Taliban.