The presidential candidates have all discussed the need to reinforce NATO efforts in Afghanistan and the importance of success in Afghanistan to the alliance. Both candidates have called for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan; Senators McCain and Obama have said that European allies need to remove national caveats restricting where troops can be deployed, and Senator Obama has suggested the United States need to commit more troops to efforts there. Senator Obama believes the current administration’s focus on Iraq has distracted attention and diverted necessary resources from Afghanistan. Senator McCain disagrees with the assertion that the war in Iraq has strained NATO’s mission in Afghanistan.

Barack Obama (D)

“In fact - as should have been apparent to President Bush and Senator McCain - the central front in the war on terror is not Iraq, and it never was.”  Throughout his campaign, Senator Obama has expressed his views about how the war in Iraq has distracted the U.S. from the war in Afghanistan.   During an interview in March 2008, Obama stated that "we have not followed through on the good starts we made in Afghanistan, partly because we took so many resources out and put them in Iraq. I think it is very important for us to begin a planned redeployment from Iraq, including targeting Afghanistan."  The claim that resources being "sent to Baghdad" are hurting American efforts in Afghanistan define much of the Senator’s foreign policy position toward the region.  In a speech on July 15, 2008 in Washington DC, Obama asserted that “in the 18 months since the surge began, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated.” He maintains that as “a consequence of our current strategy”, the world has seen the Taliban go on the offensive and Al Qaeda enjoy refuge in Pakistan. Obama advocates ending the U.S. combat role in Iraq by withdrawing troops at the rate of one to two brigades a month while increasing the military commitment to Afghanistan. The Senator implores that “now is the time for a responsible redeployment of our combat troops that pushes Iraq's leaders toward a political solution, rebuilds our military, and refocuses on Afghanistan and our broader security interests.”  
Senator Obama expressed his view of NATO allies in Afghanistan by saying: "I've been very clear that we do need more support from them. We also may need to lift some of the constraints that they have placed on their forces there." Senator Obama went on to say that "you can't have a situation where the United States is called upon to do the dirty work, or the United States and Britain are called upon to do the dirty work, and nobody else wants to engage in actual firefights with the Taliban." Obama continually shows a commitment to “rally NATO members to contribute troops to collective security operations, urging them to invest more in reconstruction and stabilization operations, streamlining the decision-making processes, and giving NATO commanders in the field more flexibility.” The Senator says he would send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan while he seeks greater contributions with fewer restrictions from NATO allies.  He suggests an additional $1 billion in nonmilitary assistance each year for the training of Afghan security forces and the support of an Afghan judiciary, with safeguards to combat corruption. 
On July 20, 2008, Senator Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during his summer trip to the Middle East.  In a joint statement with accompanying Sens. Hagel, R-Neb., and Reed, D-R.I., Obama stated:  "Our message to the Afghan government is this: We want a strong partnership based on 'more for more' — more resources from the United States and NATO, and more action from the Afghan government to improve the lives of the Afghan people.  We need a sense of urgency and determination.”  During the same trip, Obama spoke to a crowd of over 200,000 in Berlin, Germany about the transatlantic interest “in seeing that NATO's first mission beyond Europe's borders is a success”.  He implored European nations to renew political and military support for NATO and its efforts in Afghanistan: “The Afghan people need our troops and your troops; our support and your support to defeat the Taliban and al Qaeda, to develop their economy, and to help them rebuild their nation.” Obama has maintained that he is “committed to success in Afghanistan and will encourage European allies to join the United States in enhancing and accelerating a multi-billion dollar effort for the reconstruction of Afghanistan over the next decade.”

John McCain (R)

In a speech at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy on February 10, 2007, Senator McCain stated: "the future of our alliance is directly at stake. If NATO does not prevail in Afghanistan, it is difficult to imagine the alliance undertaking another "hard security" operation - in or out of area - and its credibility would suffer a grievous blow." More recently, the Senator contended that "the status quo is not acceptable. Security in Afghanistan has deteriorated, and our enemies are on the offensive ... Our commanders in Afghanistan say that they need at least three additional brigades. Thanks to the success of the surge, these forces are becoming available, and our commanders in Afghanistan must get them."
Senator McCain disagrees with those who argue that the war in Iraq has had a negative impact on NATO and its willingness to act cooperatively with the US in Afghanistan. In a speech at the 2006 Security Conference in Munich McCain stated: "To those who say that disagreements over the war in Iraq strained the alliance irreparably, I again dissent. Even at the peak of Iraq-related tensions, NATO was engaged in successful operations in Afghanistan, and since then has expanded its role throughout the country."   McCain has resisted any timetable for withdrawal, insisting that victory in Iraq is a necessary precursor to success in Afghanistan.  When recently asked whether he would divert troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, Senator McCain stated that any withdrawal of troops from Iraq "must be based on conditions on the ground," and he "would not do that unless Gen. [David] Petraeus said that he felt that the situation called for that."  McCain’s position on Afghanistan differs from Obama’s largely in regards to the War in Iraq.   Unlike Senator Obama, who supports a timeline for troop withdrawal, McCain argues that progress in Iraq has been substantial enough for the US to maintain necessary presence in Iraq while reinforcing and reinvigorating efforts in Afghanistan.  McCain claims: “Senator Obama will tell you we can't win in Afghanistan without losing in Iraq. In fact, he has it exactly backwards.  It is precisely the success of the surge in Iraq that shows us the way to succeed in Afghanistan." McCain has often claimed that “he [Obama] would choose to lose in Iraq in hopes of winning in Afghanistan”.  
Senator McCain has suggested that NATO needs to broaden its reach by taking in like-minded countries as "global partners," who can help share the burden in Afghanistan and elsewhere. In a speech delivered at the Hoover Institution, McCain stated: "[...] I believe we must then take the next step and expand the circle of our democratic community. [NATO forces] are serving alongside forces from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea --all democratic allies or close partners of the United States. But they are not all part of a common structure. [...] Organizations and partnerships must be as international as the challenges we confront." Senator McCain, like Senator Obama, has called on European Allies to do more in Afghanistan.  In an interview in Kabul on December 16, 2006, McCain said: "It’s very important that the other countries represented here remove their national caveats which restraint the ability of their military to perform and makes it extremely difficult for our NATO commanders to call on them for assistance when needed in combat zones, especially in the south." 

Read More

Obama Completely Misreads NATO's Motives on Afghanistan National Review Online, May 15, 2008

McCain Wants Rethink of UK Afghanistan Policy The Telegraph, March 16, 2008

NATO reluctance in Afghanistan risking lives: US chief AFP, March 11, 2008

The Transatlantic Alliance's Afghan Strains The Washington Note, March 10, 2008

Congress demands testimony from Nato commander in Afghanistan The Guardian, March 7, 2008

Obama Calls for Help from NATO Allies in Afghanistan Spiegel Online, February 29, 2008

Afghanistan's Soldiers Back Up Obama's Debate Story The Huffington Post, February 24, 2008

Gates Says Anger Over Iraq Hurts Afghan Effort New York Times, February 9, 2008

Gates' Criticism of Afghanistan Forces Riles NATO NPR, January 17, 2008

Additional Resources

NATO Website

Office of the Afghan President Website