CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript

Interview

CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, joining me now, Congressman Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington State. And the congressman just got back just days ago from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Sir, we appreciate you being here.

I know you read the comments today from Senator Levin, who was down on the floor of the Senate making a speech today.

REP. ADAM SMITH (D), WASHINGTON STATE: Yes.

HOLMES: And he says point-blank that we should increase and accelerate our efforts to support Afghan security forces in their efforts before we consider whether to increase U.S. combat forces above the levels already planned. Do you agree with him that before we even think about sending another U.S. member, first we need to deal with the problem of increasing Afghan security forces?

SMITH: Well, I agree in part and disagree in part.

HOLMES: Which part do you agree with first?

(CROSSTALK) SMITH: Well, let me explain.

Certainly, I think the critical element -- this is a classic counterinsurgency campaign. And in a counterinsurgency campaign, what you need is you need the locals, the people, in this case the Afghans, to take the lead in that. You need to work with them. They need to be the ones who are providing security. Yes, we need to train their army. We need to train their police.

There's also a huge development piece of this. We need to build the capacity of their local governments to provide what the people need, village to village, community to community.

The part that I would disagree with is that we should preclude our options, because part of enabling them to train the army and train the police is to make sure that they have security. And if that requires U.S. troops to help provide security, to give them the space they need to get to the point Senator Levin mentions, I don't think we in Congress should be precluding options to get there.

Furthermore, I have enormous confidence in General McChrystal. He's the guy we picked to lead this effort. The president put together a brand-new plan in Afghanistan that I think is absolutely correct. We should not preclude options from the general that we have charged with making that plan successful.

HOLMES: Well, I guess that's certainly where -- the part you and Senator Levin disagree.

SMITH: Yes.

HOLMES: I'm going to let you and our viewers listen right now to Senator Levin I guess further explain his position. Then we will talk about it on the other side. Let's listen first.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D-MI), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: In short, we need a surge of Afghan forces. Our support of this surge of the Afghan security forces will show our commitment to the success of a mission that is clearly in our national security interests. But we would do so without creating a bigger U.S. footprint, which provides propaganda fodder for the Taliban.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, I guess what about that point, and many would say maybe that's where we made some missteps in Iraq as well, to keep throwing American service members at the problem? You got to show Afghans that they can be taken care of by their own Afghanistan government and security forces.

SMITH: Yes. And that is absolutely the ultimate goal in counterinsurgency, that the motto is by, through and with the local population to get where you need to be. So, I certainly agree with that piece of it. But on the propaganda piece, it cuts both ways. And there's also the security piece. Yes, the Taliban will use as propaganda the presence of outside forces. But they will also use as propaganda anything we say that shows a reluctance to do what we need to be successful. They will say, we're going to win. You have to side with us because they're not going to be here. They are not committed to helping you.

So, that too is a danger on the other side. And again while we're training the Afghan police and the Afghan army, if the Taliban are able through car bombs and suicide attacks to undermine that effort, if there is not sufficient security to train those police and train that army, then the effort will never get off the ground.

Now, what's the magic right number of troops? I don't know. I would even submit that Senator Levin doesn't know. I would submit that General McChrystal, the guy who's been over there, who understands the battle better than any of us, he's the guy who knows. And I do believe we ought to listen to him.

HOLMES: You mention listening to him there, but never short of getting opinions from some of the folks in Congress. So, tell me how far should you, how far should Senator Levin, any member of Congress really go in coming out and making statements like Senator Levin does I guess even before General McChrystal comes out and says exactly what he wants to do? Does that in some way almost even undermine General McChrystal at a time when support for the Afghanistan war is decreasing among the American public?

SMITH: Well, let me just be clear. It is perfectly for Senator Levin or any member of Congress to state what they think the policy ought to be in Afghanistan or in Pakistan. And there will be differences of opinion.

And don't get me wrong, also. It's a very, very tough part of the world. I wish that al Qaeda wasn't there. I wish that the Taliban weren't so closely allied with al Qaeda and this wasn't such a threat to our national security. But it is, so we have to deal with that difficult part of the world.

And I do think we should be cautious about saying no more troops or it has to be this strategy or it can't be that strategy before the generals on the ground that we have put in charge get the chance to offer their opinion.

Now, if you feel strongly enough about it, if we feel that General McChrystal is wrong, then we need to find a different general to lead that effort. I don't believe that. I think General McChrystal knows what he's doing and we should give him the chance to tell us what the plans are.

And also he understands just as well, better, than Senator Levin or anybody that you have got to have the local population in the lead. He's been very much involved in counterinsurgency efforts, and he knows that. But again you can't there if you're not able to provide basic security for those Afghan people who you are trying to get trained and get ready to basically take over both security and the development in these communities.

HOLMES: And one more thing here, Representative Smith. I guess there are a lot of opinions up there, no doubt, in Congress. But given the time we're in, where we're in the middle of this health care debate, and the president is having a tough time getting all the Democrats on the same page, a lot of opinions about the health care reform debate, is this the last thing he needs right now, and Democrats need, is another split within the party up there on Capitol Hill about what to do on another major issue?

I'm not saying with this Afghanistan debate, we're near as far as the split we have seen on health care reform. But still another split, another divide among Democrats, is that last thing you need right now?

SMITH: Well, as the president famously said during the course of the campaign, part of being president is you have to be able to deal with more than one crisis at the same time.

We face many challenges. I think we all knew that when the president was sworn in, in January. Some of them were domestic, but there also continue to be the major threats in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan, the difficulties we face. And specifically in Afghanistan, the threat we face from al Qaeda is very, very real. I mean, particularly on 9/11, we should remember that. So, I don't know that I would say it's the last thing he needs.

It's just it's what he faced when he got elected. He knew it, and these are challenges that we have to meet. There will be differences of opinion amongst Democrats and Republicans. And, ultimately, he's got to push the right policies. And in Afghanistan, I think he is.

HOLMES: All right, Representative Adam Smith, again joining us from Seattle today, sir, we appreciate you taking the time out.

SMITH: Thank you.

HOLMES: You enjoy your weekend. Thank you so much, sir.

SMITH: Appreciate the chance.

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