Key Dem senator warns Obama on post-war Afghanistan spending

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http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-and-strategy/222453-key-democrat-warns-obama-on-afghanistan-spending

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is warning the Obama administration that Congress could refuse to fund Afghan security forces after U.S. troops leave the country.

In an interview with The Hill, Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) offered his strongest warning to Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s government, saying Kabul is “reaching beyond what is realistic” in asking that the United States guarantee it $1 billion in annual funds for security after the war.


But Levin’s comments also highlighted a problem to the Pentagon, which has said Afghan National Security Forces will need up to $5 billion annually to maintain operations against the Taliban and insurgent forces after the U.S. exit.
Given the U.S. budget problems and doubts about how the money will be spent in Afghanistan, that’s a hard sell for members of Congress, Levin indicated.

The chairman did not rule out supporting funding for post-war Afghan security, and said he is personally in favor of a “robust commitment” to the Afghan forces.