Kerry backs delay on Afghan troop decision

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By Jon Ward

Sen. John Kerry, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, said Wednesday it is "common sense" that President Obama should wait on an Afghanistan strategy decision until after a runoff election for Afghan president is completed.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who played a key role during a trip to Afghanistan over the weekend in convincing Afghan President Hamid Karzai to accept the runoff, met with Mr. Obama at the White House Wednesday morning.

Mr. Kerry emerged from the meeting and held court with reporters for close to a half-hour in front of the West Wing, saying he believes Mr. Obama should wait until after the runoff to decide on troop levels and on what strategy the United States will pursue in Afghanistan. The administration has faced criticism on Capitol Hill over Mr. Obama's lengthy policy review as the situation on the ground in Afghanistan deteriorates for U.S. and international forces.

"I would absolutely counsel the president to wait until the end of the runoff," said Mr. Kerry, though he added, when asked, that he had not actually told Mr. Obama to do so during their meeting.

"The question didn't come up specifically," said Mr. Kerry, the Democratic nominee for president in 2004.

"But I would suspect that he will be interested. Just as a matter of common sense, he's going to want to know what kind of government he's got to deal with in Afghanistan before he makes a decision," Mr. Kerry said of the president.

"So I would be surprised if he were not on the same wavelength."

The runoff between Mr. Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah is set for Nov. 7, following a first round of voting in August widely criticized for fraud and irregularities. Neither candidate received a clear majority of the vote, necessitating a second round. But the results of the Nov. 7 ballot could take a week or two to be counted, leaving almost a month until the winner is known.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday morning that "it's certainly possible" that Mr. Obama could make a decision on his strategy and troop levels -- 65,000 troops currently are in Afghanistan -- before the runoff.