Webb warns of ‘tipping point’ in Afghanistan

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va. warned Sunday that an increased military presence in Afghanistan would risk a "tipping point" in which U.S. troops are viewed as an occupying force.

He also questioned whether Afghanistan, without a viable national government, is capable of building its own security force of 400,000 troops, as the top U.S. commander envisions.

"Before we jump forward with a total change of policy," from counterterrorism to counterinsurgency, "we need to look at what is achievable," Webb said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"We deserve to have very careful consideration before we start moving in the direction of nation-building."

Eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Barack Obama is reviewing U.S. strategy in Afghanistan as that country sorts through a presidential election that was beset by reports of corruption.

Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, is seeking up to 40,000 additional U.S. troops. He has told top U.S. officials that unless he gets more troops in the next year, the mission is likely to fail.

Six months ago, Obama ordered 21,000 additional troops and trainers to Afghanistan. The last of those forces will arrive in November, bringing U.S. troop strength to 68,000.

In a CBS News/New York Times poll released Friday, 29 percent backed a further U.S. troop increase in Afghanistan, while 32 percent said the troop level should drop and 27 percent said it should remain unchanged. The poll, taken Sept. 19 through Wednesday, was conducted from a random sample of 1,042 adults nationwide and had a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, appearing today on CNN's "State of the Union," said a timetable for withdrawal would be a mistake and that "failure in Afghanistan would be a huge setback for the United States."

Webb, a decorated Marine and former secretary of the Navy, agreed that Obama should not set a firm date for withdrawal. But he said the U.S. should be able to clearly state the conditions under which the U.S. military mission will end.

A successful counterinsurgency policy requires the ability to move a country's people toward a valid system of government, Webb said.

"And in Afghanistan it is questionable whether there is a valid national government. Secondly, you have to be able to do so in a way that you have a clear end point for the involvement of your own military."

Webb acknowledged that Afghanistan is very complex because of its proximity to Pakistan and the regional implications of military action. He stressed that he is not talking about abandoning Afghanistan.

"The question is how you fight terrorism -- international terrorism. And in this case, we're widening the envelope to say 'Taliban,'" he said.

"Taliban means government. Are you really going to say that we're going to be responsible for putting in a viable national government in a country that really hasn't ever had one?"