Sen. Graham wants permanent Afghan bases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Friday permanent bases in Afghanistan would help keep the country out of the hands of the Taliban.

Graham, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, was interviewed on CNN by former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The interview was scheduled to air at 8 p.m. EST on CNN's "Parker Spitzer."

The senator said he supports two permanent bases.

"Under the right circumstances, I think it would really secure the gains we made as a way to make sure this country never goes back into the hands of the Taliban," he said.

Spitzer responded that he was "startled" by Graham's stand. He said he thought the war was "about al-Qaida and terrorism, not about nation building in Afghanistan."