Tierney Afghanistan trip could help Obama decide Mideast strategies

PEABODY – Information gathered earlier this week by U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney during a trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan could be used by President Barack Obama as he devises a strategy for bringing peace and stability to the wartorn region.Tierney, a Salem Democrat and chairman of the congressional Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, left Washington on Jan. 28 and returned Feb. 3, following an itinerary that included a brief meeting with the U.S. ambassador in Kuwait and a stopover in Qatar to investigate recent aerial bombings and reports of collateral damage.The congressman also met with two North Shore servicemen in Afghanistan – Marine Cpl. Hector Sanchez of Beverly and Army Col. Bill Morris of Gloucester.According to Tierney, President Obama is considering several options for how to proceed in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of which involve Pakistan because of its proximity and influence in the region.”The President is trying to get a broader perspective,” said Tierney, explaining that any strategy must include not only military solutions but economic, diplomatic and intelligence components as well.Asked about the timetable for pulling U.S. troops from Iraq, he said, “That’s why we went, so that we can weigh our findings into that timetable. Then we’ll try to meet with (Vice President Joseph Biden’s) people to share them.”One thing is certain when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan, said Tierney: “We need to define the mission. It was defined too broadly under the Bush administration. You are not going to have a democracy that looks like ours or a central government that looks like ours.”However, Afghanistan might adopt a central government that would be responsible for enforcing international borders, regulating trade and trying to reduce corruption, but some regions would remain autonomous because of the country’s tribal structure, he said.Offering an example, Tierney explained that a truckload of pomegranates could cost an astronomical $450 as various tribal factions extract tariffs along the shipping route. “If the shipment gets stopped six times, it would cost far more than it’s worth, but a central government could have national laws for commerce and trade. Right now, there’s corruption at every level, with warlords involved in drugs and other graphic corruption. The hope is that President (Hamid) Karzai is strong enough to stop it,” the congressman said. “But Afghanistan can’t do it alone. There must be talks that involve China, India, Iran and The Stans if we are to achieve stability. The insurgents live there. They are not going anywhere. So we have to close the Pakistan border and go after al-Qaida and the Taliban who are associated with an al-Qaida-type agenda.”Insurgents frequently cross the Afghanistan border into Pakistan where they hide in the rugged northern frontier mountains.”We need to put conditions on Pakistan. If they expect to receive U.S. aid, they have to stop the cross-border travel, stop the cross-border mortars and exert control over their military and ISI (secret police),” said Tierney, noting that former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, a U.S. ally in the war on terrorism, appears willing to support those terms. “He nodded that he was perfectly fine with that.”Part of the solution in Afghanistan could include the insertion of 30,000 U.S. troops to secure areas such as the Ring Road, as recommended by NATO commander and U.S. Gen. David McKiernan, Tierney said, adding that the Afghani army would be boosted to 134,000 and a national police force created.”Gen. McKiernan wants to bring security to the Ring Road,” Tierney said, explaining that the situation in Afghanistan is complicated because no Afghan has been tied to terrorist attacks against the U.S., England or Spain – all places where acts of terrorism have occurred. “They’re usually Pakistanis or Egyptians” or in the case of Sept. 11, 2001, citizens of Saudi Arabia.The recent open elections in Iraq were “a good sign” that p