Senators tour Afghanistan, hear the need for more troops

"The situation is good, but we feel that there is a lot more work to do," said Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on a conference call with reporters to discuss his trip to Afghanistan to meet with President Hamid Karzai. Senator Reid was accompanied by other members of the U.S. Senate including Jeff Bingamen(D-N.M.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Isakson (R-Ga.). The delegation flew first to Kyrgyzstan. After visiting troops and commanders in Afghanistan, they are staying for a day in Kazakhstan.

The Senate majority leader said there is concern about the resurgence of the Taliban, but that the ability to "deal with them" has been increased. Principal areas of concern are in eastern Afghanistan, as well as increasing violence in the south on the border with Pakistan.

Ried reported that the senators had met commanders in Afghanistan, principally Gen. David McKiernan, commander of International Security Assistance Force - Afghanistan (ISAF). "They generals made it clear that they need more resources," he said.

ISAF commanders have requested three additional combat brigades, specifically citing the need for trainers and mentors for Afghan army and national police. At the April summit in Bucharest, the Department of Defense increased pressure on NATO allies to increase troop levels to Afghanistan and remove caveats that keep certain countries' troops from combat. Recently the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the DoD is considering sending more troops to Afghanistan "sooner rather than later." The Defense Department recently extended the deployment of about 3,450 Marines in Afghanistan by one month. Additionally, about 200 trainers were slated to go to Afghanistan last week.

Reid emphasized that he wants to give Afghanistan the attention it needs, saying it would have been better is Afghanistan had been given consistent troop level from the beginning.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have said they would send 10,000 more troops to Afghanistan if elected president.

Pentagon requests tanker proposals again

The Government Accounting Office last month sided with the Boeing Company's complaint that the contract contest for a new refueling tanker airplane was unfair.

Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisitions Policy Shay Assad addressed the revised and reopened bidding process in a briefing at the Pentagon. He reiterated statements made by the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that each of the findings in the GAO report were serious matters and that each issue is being addressed in "a measured and serious way." Assad said that the Defense Department is trying to keep the interest of the warfighter and the taxpayer at the forefront.

The Department of Defense has created a new draft request for proposals and will meet with the two principal bidders Boeing and Northrop Grumman to discuss the new elements of the the request. The two companies will meet with the procurement and acquisitions teams over the next month and will talk through the final version of the request for proposals. The companies will then have 45 days to submit revisions. The end result is not expected until the very end of December 2008.

Assad said that in this request the Department of Defense has given clear and unambiguous insight into the level of importance given to performance factors and requirements valued by the Pentagon.

Detainee stays in prison no matter the verdict

Salim Hamdan, the defendant at the first military commission since World War II, would still be considered an enemy combatant, subject to detention, regardless of the outcome of his trail. A verdict was expected today out of Guantanamo Bay prison in the case against Hamdan, the former driver and alleged body guard of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. "Even if he were acquitted of the charges that are before him he would still be considered an enemy combatant...and still a danger and would likely still be detained for some period of time thereafter," said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell. Morrell explained that Hamdan, if acquitted, can go to a review board, which judges suitability for release or transfer. Also if he is not found guilty, Hamdan may also have the opportunity to challenge his status as an enemy combatant in court.

Morrell said that the Defense Department was pleased that the commission was taking place. "We think that you've seen a fair and transparent process," he said. 'It was a good first effort...we hope it is the beginning of at least 20 additional trials that will hopefully take place sooner than later down there.

Morrell also addressed recent comments by the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that the DoD is working toward facilitating more U.S. troops in Afghanistan Morrell emphasized that the situation in Afghanistan is not urgent and that despite the commanders' request for more ground forces, troop levels in Iraq are not directly tied to a force increase in Afghanistan. "I know much has been made of the correlation between forces coming down in Iraq and going up in Afghanistan and while that certainly would seem to be the most natural transaction to take place, the truth is we're 2.5 nearly million strong around the world, we have the means to draw forces elsewhere. Whether that be through reserves the [National] Guard or drawing down from other places around the world where we have commitments. "

Military brainstorms better ways to pay

A military study of compensation suggests extending military discounts for groceries to supermarkets located off-base, a move that would save military families from driving long distance to base amidst high gas prices. This and other suggestions were outlined during a press conference discussing the 10th Review of Military Compensation, a quadrennial report to Congress from the Department of Defense.

The report advocates establishing charter schools for children on military bases and allowing military vouchers to be used in any public or private school. To improve the military’s recruiting and retention of medical professionals, the report suggested fast-tracking non-citizen physicians to citizenship, an effort that would utilize American-trained doctors who are currently unable to practice in a military setting. Responding to perceived flaws in the military’s retirement program that offer a “one size fits all” program to personnel regardless of skill sets and training, the report suggested offering gate payments to servicemen and women who have reached milestones in their career while offering separation payments that would encourage other types of personnel to retire. In addition, the report supports raising medical care co-payments for active duty personnel and their families to reflect rates of inflation.

Militarization "creeps" into foreign policy

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to discuss the role of our nation's military in foreign policy. In particular, the hearing focused on the evolving relationship between the Department of Defense and the State Department in dealing with foreign affairs.

Both Deputy Secretary John Negroponte and Under Secretary for Defense Eric Edelman agreed that the role of the two departments were becoming increasingly intertwined, and both are adapting well to the new changes. Edelman said that unique military situations like those in Iraq and Afghanistan require military personnel to assume roles with which they are not accustomed. He went on to say that traditional state conflict is no longer the only form of international conflict, but rather combatants within the states are providing difficulties. These situations become more complicated when the governments of these combatants themselves are US allies.

This shift in relations is exemplified by the creation of groups like United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Both engage in humanitarian and military duties. However, several members of the panel expressed concern over the "militarization" of foreign policy, which could jeopardize America's global image and effectiveness. Edelman and Negroponte remained confident that both departments could maintain their roles without such issues, and asked the committee for increased funding for the fiscal year 2009 to expand their efforts.