Skelton backs call for additional troops in Afghanistan

During an appearance on CBS' Face the Nation Sunday, Fourth District Congressman Ike Skelton called for an increase in troops in Afghanistan:

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said that he supports General Stanley McChrystal who has recommended sending an additional 40,000 troops to Afghanistan.

"I back him up. I sent a letter to the president a number of days ago spelling out in great detail - some six pages of a letter - spelling out basically 'Give the general what he needs.' You see, you have to have security in Afghanistan. You have to have governance in Afghanistan. If you don't have both of them, your whole strategy falls apart," Skelton said.

"The war really didn't start until March of this year when the president came forth with a strategy, frankly an excellent strategy," Skelton reasoned. "He chose General McChrystal who is the best in the business for this type of conflict. He asked General McChrystal for an assessment. He got that assessment. Of course that became known ... it was public. And in essence he's going to be asking for additional resources."

He said that a return of the Taliban in Aghanistan meant a return of al Qaeda.

"Just like water running downhill," he said. "They're going to come back in. They had a safe haven there at one time. There's no reason to believe they wouldn't have a safe haven again. That's the purpose of this entire mission. To quell the al Qaeda and to make sure that the Taliban is not there to invite them back."