Reid: Afghanistan in ‘pretty good shape’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday said the military situation in Afghanistan has greatly improved, but that U.S. troops need more resources.

Reid, on a week-long trip to central Asia and Europe with Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), also said he expects American troops will begin drawing down as other countries beef up their personnel contributions to the effort.

{mosads}Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Reid said U.S. military leaders didn't provide specific troop numbers but were "pretty clear" that they need more. It is Reid's first trip to Afghanistan, although he has been to Iraq. The trip was not announced until Tuesday for security reasons.

"We've been so focused on Iraq, and we all know Afghanistan has not received the attention and resources it needs," Reid told reporters. "We are where we are, but not where we should be. After 9/11, we spent a little time here and left. It would have been better if we'd spent more resources here. We didn't, and that can't be undone. But we are in a better position now… I feel we're in pretty good shape."

Reid said U.S. commanders in Afghanistan are avoiding mistakes made in Iraq, such as paying more attention to diplomacy and infrastructure needs.

"We've frankly learned a lot from Iraq," Reid said. "We're not attempting to win this war with sheer military power."

The senators first stopped in Kyrgyzstan, where they met with President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, and also met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, with whom Reid has met before during a trip by Karzai to Washington, D.C.

A press release from Reid's office said the delegation toured an air base near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital.

Asked about legislative efforts on energy prices, Reid said he hoped to keep the Senate focused next month on Democratic-led efforts to crack down on oil speculators and consideration of a windfall profits tax as well as an investigation into possible price-gouging. Republican senators blocked those efforts before the chamber adjourned last week, but Reid said news reports of the debates were one reason that oil prices have dipped in recent days.

"I still believe we were headed in the right direction when we were talking about speculation," he said. "Maybe a month will allow everyone to cool down."