Sen. Levin suggests US delay operations in Kandahar until more Afghan troops can join fight

Sen. Levin suggests US delay Kandahar operation

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee says the U.S.-led operation in Kandahar, a hotbed of insurgent activity in Afghanistan, shouldn’t move forward until more Afghan security forces can move into the city.

Sen. Carl Levin says there are fewer than 9,000 Afghan troops operating in and around Kandahar as the U.S. begins building up its own forces in the region to try to drive away the Taliban.

The Taliban has been using the southern city as its command center since the war began.

While Levin suggests the U.S. delay operations, he insists that the U.S. stick with its plan to begin pulling troops from Afghanistan. Levin, D-Mich., tells CBS’ “Face the Nation” that it’s up to the Afghans to take control of their country.