WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday progress he had seen in a visit to Afghanistan swayed him to support the pullout of U.S. troops starting next summer.
"I've seen progress I have not seen before, so I see a scenario if things continue to develop the way they are, certain areas of Afghanistan can be transitioned to Afghan control and we can remove some troops safely without undermining the overall war mission," Graham said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
His comments came six weeks after he questioned whether U.S. troops could safely begin leaving the country by next summer, President Barack Obama's target date.
Graham, a member of the Armed Services Committee, criticized Obama Sunday, however, for not making clear he would keep some troops in the country as long as necessary.
"At the end of the day, the president has to let the Afghan people -- the regional players know, the America people know -- that we are not going to leave until we are successful," Graham said. "The president needs to speak more openly about why we can't lose in Afghanistan, to get the American people behind staying and being successful."
Graham also called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to "rally his people" in support of the war against militants and to root out corruption.
"He's an articulate leader. He's got to be all in to win. His government's not at war with the insurgency," said Graham, who also urged Karzai to change laws to allow allied forces to detail security threats.
