House GOP military veterans urge president to make decision on Afghanistan

 WASHINGTON — A group of House Republicans who are military veterans urged President Barack Obama on Thursday to come to a decision about future U.S.-Afghanistan strategy.

"We have extreme concerns over the leadership coming from the White House on this issue," said Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, a former Navy pilot.

Olson, who represents voters in suburbs south of Houston, was joined at a news conference by four other House veterans who contended that Obama should make a decision to send additional troops.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, is seeking at least 40,000 additional troops, but key Democrats and some Obama advisers have expressed wariness about escalating the U.S. presence.

"The president needs to step up and lead," Olson said. "He has eaten up three months just talking at the White House."

Obama has been holding lengthy strategy sessions with military and civilian experts on the future course of U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

He is expected to disclose his plans by the end of the month.

Earlier, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., cautioned that Obama is taking too much time to decide the issue at a time when the Taliban is showing new strength in Afghanistan.

The GOP House veterans drew contrasts to President George W. Bush’s deliberations on U.S. strategies in Iraq that ended when he agreed to calls by the then-top commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, to increase troop levels. The House veterans said equally speedy decision-making is needed in Afghanistan.

"We are at that moment right now in Afghanistan," said Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., an Army vet. "We need to give the military the tools they need."

Olson said a long wait on a decision from Obama on how to proceed could cause troop morale to suffer, making it more difficult to carry out the mission.

"It is too important to lose this battle," Olson said.

The veterans also said the decision-making process is becoming politically charged.

"We don’t need a political decision at the end of the day. We need a military decision," said Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., a Gulf War combat veteran.

Other Republican House members joining Olson were Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., a Marine veteran, and Rep. John Fleming, R-La., a former Navy medic.

The president needs to step up and lead."