By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) calls President Obama’s plan “hardly distinguishable from the strategy of the previous administration” and says Afghanistan is “clearly an area where we need to keep the pressure on to prevent another attack on the homeland.” McConnell traveled with Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), James Risch (R-Idaho) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) to the Middle East during the U.S. Congress recess, visiting with foreign officials regarding political, economic and military/security issues affecting bilateral relations. Following the trip, McConnell said in a news conference today that the U.S. is “on the right track,” in both Iraq and Afghanistan. “Over in Afghanistan, I think the surge that the President has ordered is the right thing to do,” said McConnell pertaining to President Obama’s decision to send additional troops to boost Afghan efforts. “We’re going to be in Afghanistan for a long time to come,” said Sen. Chambliss, and it’s going to have to be a political, not military solution. Chambliss went on to say that leadership is needed from a State Department standpoint in Iraq. McConnell noted that Israel and moderate Arab states have widespread concern over Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities.