Defense hawk backs withdrawal from Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of the strongest defense hawks in Congress says the United States should withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.

Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Florida said in an interview earlier this week with the editorial board of the Tampa Bay Times that "we're killing kids who don't need to die."

Young is the chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee and his position is certain to reverberate at the Pentagon and the White House.

His stand comes amid growing weariness with a war that has dragged on for more than a decade. An increasing wave of insider attacks this week forced commanders to impose new limits on when NATO and Afghan troops can patrol together.