San Diego Republican Congressman Darrell Issa just got back from a trip to the Middle East. He and four other lawmakers met with military and political leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Washington reporter Matt Laslo has the story.
Issa sits on the intelligence committee. On the trip he met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. He urged Musharraf to end the emergency rule by December fifteenth and to hold free elections. Issa also met with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.
Issa says he came away thinking Afghanistan needs more troops.
Issa : A surge in training of police and military is well worthwhile, because with only 1,600 at our base in Afghanistan, a surge of 1,000 or maybe another 1,600 is a doubling.
Issa wants those extra troops to come from U.S. bases, not from Iraq. Democrats are still trying to force President Bush to move U.S. troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan.
From Capitol News Connection in Washington, I'm Matt Laslo for KPBS News.
