Gates: Afghan Surge Could be Swift     11/20 08:17

   Defense Secretary Robert Gates said any new U.S. forces President Barack 
Obama sends to Afghanistan could move into the country swiftly, despite 
logistical hassles that force almost all major deliveries of troops and 
supplies to go by air.

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates said any new U.S. forces 
President Barack Obama sends to Afghanistan could move into the country 
swiftly, despite logistical hassles that force almost all major deliveries of 
troops and supplies to go by air.

   His wording suggested that, as expected, Obama will soon approve an increase 
in the already record U.S. force of 68,000 in Afghanistan. Months of 
deliberations over the flagging war are ending, with an announcement of a 
substantial troop increase expected in the next two weeks.

   "I anticipate that as soon as the president makes his decision, we can 
probably begin flowing some forces pretty quickly after that," Gates said.

   Gates and Vice Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said 
the coming troop infusion is a bigger logistical challenge than the Iraq 
"surge," which added forces at the rate of roughly one brigade a month.

   Afghanistan's forbidding terrain, lack of roads and other infrastructure and 
the fact that forces and equipment are still tied up in Iraq are all 
complicating factors.

   "It's not going to be a brigade a month because of the infrastructure piece, 
the ability to receive it, literally, in Afghanistan, as well as all the other 
moving parts," Mullen said.

   Gates and Mullen spoke at a Pentagon news conference.

   Gates did not directly answer a question about whether the United States 
could hold out more troops as leverage toward reform of Afghanistan's shaky, 
corrupt government. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, inaugurated Thursday for a 
second five-year term, wants more U.S. help to secure his country against the 
Taliban-led insurgency.

   "My personal view is that you do have to exercise what leverage you have," 
Gates said.

   Earlier Thursday, Germany's defense chief told Gates his country will 
maintain its military commitment in Afghanistan, but did not promise to 
increase it for now. Germany's force of more than 4,000 is among the largest 
from any nation apart from the United States.

   Germany will hold off on any decision about adding troops to Afghanistan at 
least until the United States makes a move, German Minister of Defense 
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said following meetings at the Pentagon.

   "We are, eagerly probably as you all are, waiting for the president's speech 
and ... waiting for the new concept, the new strategic ideas from our American 
friends," Guttenberg said.

   Gates replied that the United States "can use all the help we can get" from 
European nations and others in Afghanistan. But he said asking for anything 
specific is premature until Obama announces his plans.

   Mullen told a military audience earlier Thursday that the administration and 
military have been engaged in a "healthy debate" on what to do in Afghanistan 
that goes beyond troop levels.

   "This isn't all just about the military. This isn't all just about the 
number of troops because we can't do it alone," Mullen told National Guard 
soldiers just outside of Washington in Maryland.

   Besides providing security in Afghanistan, "we have to have a development 
plan. We have to have a governance plan that goes hand-in-glove as we go 
forward," Mullen said.

   On Capitol Hill, a group of more liberal House Democrats who oppose a hefty 
troop increase, including Reps. Dave Obey of Wisconsin and John Murtha of 
Pennsyvlania, proposed that the president impose a war tax each year to pay for 
operations. The bill would exempt service members and their families.

   Meanwhile, Republicans accused Obama of dragging his heels.

   "Our military believes they can succeed, but are unsure whether Washington 
will give them the opportunity," House Republicans said in a letter to be sent 
to Obama on Friday.


(KM)