Graham wants an Agreement on Afghanistan

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) visited Kabul to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Senator Graham says they impressed upon him the urgency of signing an agreement extending the stay of U.S. and NATO troops. “I believe that the Taliban are holding out hope that America and the International Community will leave Afghanistan like we did Iraq.” Decisions need to be made now, says Graham. “If you want troops to stay in Afghanistan past 2014, you have to make those decisions militarily, now.” Planning is currently underway that could affect forces in Afghanistan, adds Graham.  “If you want the Congress to fund Afghan security forces and to pay for American soldiers past 2014, we have to put it in our budget.  The budget is due January the 15^th.”  Senator Graham stressed the importance of an agreement. “We need to get this agreement done in a mutually beneficial way soon or we will loose the opportunity to secure Afghanistan and we will have another Iraq in the making.” Senators John McCain and John Barrasso joined Senator Graham on the trip.