Letters from the Hon. Senator

I get the strangest things in the mail.

Surge the Afghan Army

Dear Friend,

I recently returned from a visit to Afghanistan, where I found the battle against the Taliban and al Qaeda to be at a crucial stage. The situation is serious. Security has deteriorated.

The Obama Administration's new strategy, focusing on securing the safety of the Afghan population and partnering with the Afghan army in that effort, is an important start at reversing these trends.

For this strategy to succeed, I believe there are urgent steps we should take to support the Afghan security forces in their efforts to become self-sufficient in providing security to their nation.

These steps include:

• increasing the size of the Afghan army and police much faster than presently planned;

• providing more trainers for the Afghan army and police than presently planned;

• providing them more equipment than presently planned;

• and working to separate local Taliban fighters from their leaders and attract them to the side of the government as we did in Iraq.

I also believe that we should take these steps before we consider whether to increase U.S. combat forces above the levels already planned for the next few months.

If we take the right steps, we can ensure that Afghanistan does not revert to a Taliban-friendly government that could once again provide a safe haven for al Qaeda to terrorize us and the world.

Providing the needed resources to strengthen and expedite the ability of the Afghan army and police to secure their country will avoid the creation of a larger U.S. footprint in Afghanistan; increase the chances of success in defeating the Taliban; and foster the establishment of a long-term relationship with a stable and democratic Afghanistan. And I believe this approach should be urgently implemented before considering a further increase in U.S. ground combat forces, beyond what is already planned to be deployed by the end of the year.

I thought you might like to read my remarks on the Senate floor last week outlining this proposal in greater detail. Click here to take a look.

Best wishes,
Carl Levin

My response?

The only way to ensure Afghanistan does not revert to a Taliban-friendly government that could once again provide a safe haven for al Qaeda to terrorize us and the world is to completely withdraw all troops from Afghanistan, shut down the narcotics trade by sealing its borders, and end our support for the corrupt Afghani government.

Yes, there would be chaos. But that has been made inevitable by years of CIA-run foreign policy there. Best to seal it up to all but humanitarian relief and clean up our own act.

Another thing that could be done: end all private contractor-supported efforts on behalf of the United States government. The mercenaries are running the underground show in the so-called war on terror, and they have no desire for the show to ever end. These companies infiltrate the entire defense and intelligence establishment.

Not that you can actually do anything about that, sir, but you should know millions of Americans understand what has gone on even if we're helpless to deal with it.

Oh well. Another letter for my Company file.