McCain: Afghan leader ‘desperate’ for more help

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says Afghanistan’s new president is “desperate” for more U.S. help and will welcome the Obama administration’s reported plan to slow the drawdown of U.S. troops in that country.

The head of the Senate Armed Services Committee said he expects the administration to announce formally that the U.S. will alter the drawdown timetable next week when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visits the White House.

{mosads}He told The Hill on Thursday that Ghani is “on board” with the decision to keep more troops in Afghanistan.

“I know him very well. He’s desperate for more help,” McCain added.

McCain’s remarks come days after military officials told The Associated Press that President Obama plans to keep more troops in the country through 2016 than originally planned.

The president may alter his plan to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to 5,500 by the end of 2015, instead leaving around 10,000 to help Afghan forces carry out special operations and prevent the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from gaining a foothold in the country.

“They’ve already said it, but we don’t know the details yet,” said McCain, referring to the recent press reports.

Officials also suggested that a public announcement surrounding the decision would be made during Ghani’s March 24 visit to Washington.

McCain said the visit will “reinforce the decision that we understand has been made to extend our military presence in a forceful and effective way.”

Ghani “needs to back that up and reinforce it,” he added.

Gen. John Campbell, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has argued for slowing the troop withdrawal. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also suggested during a congressional hearing earlier this month that the administration could slow the drawdown.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) last month said that Ghani told a congressional delegation at the Munich Security Conference in Germany that he wanted the number of U.S. troops in the country left “flat” through 2015. 

“His request with us is leave it flat for the rest of the year,” he said during a roundtable discussion with reporters. “He said that will give us the best chance of being able to further develop and be able to defend ourselves.”