Sens. Levin, Kyl on 'FNS'

" Joining us now to discuss the choices President Obama must make by the democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin. The comes to us from his home state of Michigan. And here is video Jon Kyle and number two Republican in the Senate. Senator as you just heard doctor Abdullah he's leaving open the possibility that he may boycott this runoff unless there are significant changes to the Afghan. Election system senator -- let me start with -- Should the US pressure President Karzai to make those reforms."

" I think we ought to put as much pressure on that process to be open and honest and transparent as possible without looking as though were. Intervening in the process it's got to be an Afghan process. There are more than one groups there they're looking at a there's one controlled by Karzai. Of course but there's another one which is an international. Group and it was that group which I think. It was caused the reelection that they placement found that there were so many fraudulent ballots that I I would think it would be a mistake. And for that doctor Abdullah to do anything other than what he just did which is to avoid. Calling for a boycott because he's hoping that he can win so I think yes we ought to presses hard as we can't without appearing. And to be dominating you're taking off taking over the process."

" Senator Kyle doctor Abdullah also says that the record is clear over the last eight years that Ahmed Karzai has not been able to deliver as president of Afghanistan. Should it. The US get more involved in Afghanistan if Karzai after the runoff ends up in our partner."

" The answer is I believe we should follow the recommendations of general McChrystal and continue the mission so that we can prevail. That means for a while we will have to be more involved. Obviously when you're talking about a country like Afghanistan you don't have a perfect government that's what you have to have a counterinsurgency policy the populace. Can't be protected by their own government. And the point of a counterinsurgency policy is for the United States forces and the other. United Nations. NATO forces to be able to help protect the Afghan population. Our being there Willis Carl Levin said provide some leverage. Over the government to be more cooperative and assistance in that effort so I think for all of those reasons. Following general McChrystal recommendation makes a lot of sense."

" As we said earlier President Obama is now just about one month into his second strategy review about the way forward in Afghanistan. This week former Vice President Cheney. Was upset about the president's long policy review he accused him of give the ring. Said he is encouraging are an -- enemy is and demoralizing our troops. And the White House responded very sharply let's take a look at."

" Press Obama house so afraid to make a decision. And enabled providers commander on the ground. With the troops he needs to complete the -- what. Vice President Cheney calls -- President Obama calls his solemn responsibility."

" To the men and women in uniform and to the American public. Senator Kyle three weeks ago you defended the president against critics who said that he was taking too long in this strategy review is still feel -- life."

" Republicans want very much to support the president's decision and if he makes the decision along the lines of general McChrystal has recommended I believe we will do that. I think that's that's an element of bipartisanship that it is called for here but let me read what general McChrystal himself said. Time matters. We must act now to reverse the negative trends and demonstrate progress. And he also said I believe the short term fight will be decisive. Failure to gain the initiative in reverse insurgent momentum in the near term next twelve months. While the Afghan security and a capacity matures risks and outcomes we're defeating the insurgency is no longer possible. It's been more than two months since the recommendation went to the president. And general McChrystal was talking about a twelve -- time for him so clearly. Time is of the essence do you believe that the review the president has undertaken has hurt our chances and heard our mission there. It depends upon how quickly we can get the forces in. And remember Afghanistan is not a country like Iraq where you've already got roads and electricity and water and so -- so you basically have to set up your camps from scratch. If we can quickly get forces and there. Then perhaps we will not have lost a critical time but as general McChrystal said -- matters and I'm afraid with every passing day we risk the future success of the mission."

" Senator Levin is -- accosted to the president engaging in such a long and such a public. Review and do you think at this point that he should wait till after the elections so that whatever his decision is it doesn't affect the runoff."

" Well first I thought that the comment to the former vice president to were totally. Out of bounds. I don't think he has any credibility left with him. I think it's really wrong for the vice former vice president United States to be talking as he did about. The president the dithering because so the president needs to read to reach the right decision. President Bush took three months in considering whether or not to surge troops in Iraq. When he made a decision to surge those troops he overrule. The recommendation. Of his commander on the ground general Casey who was opposed to sending in more troops at that time. Having jet that. -- tissue show that President Bush reached the right decision it wasn't the only cause for the improved situation in Iraq the extent it has improved. But nonetheless he took the three months no one pressured. President Bush at that time to reach a decision. More quickly -- he felt he could. And for I think effort some of the Republicans in general senator Kyle is not one of those Republicans whose. Do depressing me president I give senator Kyle credit for not pressing the president. The way Cheney in some of the Republicans have but it is just as important president reached the right decision and this is a NATO decision. Right now we have secretary gates going over to NATO talking in NATO allies this is not just a decision of the United States and whether to send more troops. There's a lot more involved in just more troops is a question of equipping the Afghan army is a question of reinvigorating the lower level Taliban. There's a number of issues that are involved here the whole training issues mission is critical we need our NATO allies on board. And the president is taking the appropriate amount of time I'm hoping to reach a right decision which is to Afghan allies this process for -- much more than it has been."

" All right let me let me break in here because I think you we all -- Less important then. The question of when he decides is less important in the question of what he decides The Wall Street Journal. Just yesterday how to report that said that the president is moving towards a high grid strategy that'll be part training Afghan. Forces part counterinsurgency. Somewhere between that 10000. Added troops with was the lowest level of the -- was talking about it 40000 troops was with his -- is asking for. Senator eleven would you support this what's being called a middle ground and do you think that's where the president is that."

" I want to see the entire -- a lot of ways of showing resolve and resolved needs to be shown. General McChrystal himself said that it's appropriate to deliberate and to change. As he put it this strategy to one which is more workable than the one that is currently in place. And so. It would depend upon the mix of actions which we take not just the question. Of more trainers richer critically important because we've got to increase the size of the capability the Afghan army. But also the question of equipment for the Afghan army we took a vote just this week which allows for our equipment to be transferred from Iraq to the Afghan army. It has to do with a plan has to reinvigorate the Afghans who is a lot of things that that need to be done to show resolve I think could be a mistake. To have any significant number of additional combat forces because I'd like to see. The large increase in the Afghan army -- the the major. Way in which."

" This new war is successful senator Kyle there were some who say that this would be a kind of split the difference decision that would give general McChrystal in the military part of what they want. But it would also give something to the president's liberal base what do you think."

" Idea personal I would note that Friday in Bratislava the NATO. Ministers agreed and they supported the counterinsurgency policy -- crystal laid out. So I -- running their regular second lightweight limit what public -- funded bailout. I don't believe that this is a choice between one or the other the policy has always been to try to take out al-Qaeda. When we cam. The policy has always been to train up more Afghan military and police the question was how many additional combat troops would would going to theater. And we can get close to 40000 combat troops in the theater and also do the other things that everyone agrees need to be done. And I think it is a a workable strategy basically follow general crystal recommendation. So what is described as a hybrid. I think that's a bit of a misnomer we will always going to do the other two things. Which you can get better intelligence and perform more effective -- more effectively both the training with more troops. And the -- counterterrorism against al-Qaeda if you have more American combat troops in theatre."

" Senator Levin you got a brief final word. Yeah I just do it Bratislava the minister of defense ministers has supported a counterinsurgency strategy they did not. Reach any conclusion relative to additional number of troops this is a NATO effort many countries have to be involved in this. But but it is a fact that they endorsed. General -- plan has not not present at eleven -- they would -- they endorsed the counterinsurgency. Plan the part that has been made public they. Specifically did not decide whether they should be addition not common but what about that they did endorse a counterinsurgency. I do to I think the counterinsurgency plan is the right way to go on the way to make it effective I believe. If they have a much larger much quicker Afghan -- army. And a much better equipped Afghans -- all right we're gonna have to leave it there -- senators Levin senator Kyle thank you both so much for coming in. Please come back both of -- gentlemen."