Sen. Graham: Some U.S. troops must stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014

(CBS News) On "Face the Nation," Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) painted an optimistic picture of Afghanistan, saying the U.S. has been doing many of the right things there, including committing counter-terrorism forces beyond the 2014 troop withdrawal.

"I applaud the president for his strategic partnership agreement" with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Graham said, referring to the agreement signed earlier this month which enables the U.S. to keep a military contingent in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Graham added that it "closes the deal ... on the Taliban's aspirations to come back militarily.

"My view is with about three or four airbases, 20,000 troops left behind past 2014, with American air power and special forces units, the Afghan army will always win a fight with the Taliban," he said.

Graham said NATO needs to play a role, too. "NATO nations need to commit past 2014. If we do that we will get this right," Graham said.

However, during "Face the Nation"'s foreign policy roundtable, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman disagreed with Graham.

"Whenever I hear people saying it's a training problem, I always ask myself, 'Who has trained the Taliban?' Training Afghans to shoot, to fight, that always just has a real dissonance in my ear. I think people fight when they have a will, and it's not just about the way, and I think there are a lot of Afghans that don't want to fight for a corrupt government," Friedman said.

President Obama is currently in Chicago for the NATO Summit with President Karzai. The role of NATO and American troops is a focus of the meetings.

[Ralph Spyer]

Who is paying for this War ? This country is in the RED ,the red blood of American boys killed in Afghanistan, the RED blood of the Afghanistan women and children that we killed because their always are , the RED ink of a America that will not tax the very people that can make the one percent . In 1968 I was in Vietnam during TET the only light at the end of the tunnel came when the Ameriacn people said' NO More"

[robert1129]

Friedman is 100% right and Graham is 100% wrong. The Afghan people do not want us there and the American people do not want us there so why stay? According to every source, there are only 100 AQ in the country. Surely, the folks there can handle 100 AQ? As to the Taliban, if the folks there want them, who are we to say no?

[tvwatcher5345]

gosh, let us all listen to friedman and graham after all they were both so right about iraq being a great idea

[skeezix06]

We can't afford to stay/leave behind a presence. We have to leave.

[josephle2k]

You've got bloods in your hands Sen. Graham

[M-Saeed]

Greating all; my follow Americans, my view on this is important to be global power. The reality is you can temp a hyna or wolfs you started a wrong direction Afghanistan. The US aFdminstration is more than ten years in Afghanistan wasting all yours lives and money and they are still dont look a reasanoble goverment, also your allains the French and nato backstapping. Fianlly this seems to me a failed mission, you can temp untempted.

[bakulaji]

My dear (honorable)Senator Lindsay Graham, Sir

I am Sid Harth.

I have been around, Oops, over, Oops, agitated over this mirage. You may be, perhaps, sure about Barack Obama's resolve. I don't need to speak for my president. He does that most elegantly, hisselph.

Talking about a plan has become his trade. Presidents come and Poseiden(s)go. Is our president sure about winning his second term?

Talking. Talking some more. Endlessly talking is his trade(mark).

America needs that kind of talking thru a problem, less. Make it least.

Hi Barack!
Hi Michele! Start packing for a graceful exit. Just don't you talk about it to nobody, least yo Mr H. Love ya.

...and I am Sid [e-mail]

[P0ST1NG_AWAY]

GREAT IDEA.
Let's make sure that these troops are the sons/daughters of
Repugs and/or Tea-Baggers.
Nothing like being enthusiastic about military deployments .....
UNTIL YOUR RELATIVES ARE ON THE LINE.

[AOCGUY]

So Col Graham, you are in the military, how about picking up a rifle and joining those troops overthere? You can stay until they all come home.