Gorbachev to Obama: 'Prepare the ground for withdrawal' in Afghanistan

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on Tuesday advised President Barack Obama to prepare to withdraw forces from Afghanistan, rather than adding more troops.

The USSR leader, who in 1986 began the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan after a lengthy conflict there, said that adding more troops will be counterproductive.

"They should be preparing the ground for withdrawal rather than for additional troops," he told Bloomberg News through a translator. "I am just saying that I believe there is no prospect in the military solution and what we need is reconciliation in the Afghan society."

The White House, meanwhile, has deliberated for many weeks whether or not to send more troops to Afghanistan. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs today denied reports that the Obama has arrived at a decision to send nearly 40,000 additional troops to the war-torn nation. 

The amount would nearly match commanding Gen. Stanley McChrystal's request for additional troops filed in September. McChrystal warned that the allied mission in Afghanistan could be in danger should more units not be sent.

Gorbachev disagreed with his assessment, saying that his nation's unsuccessful mission in Afghanistan taught him otherwise. But he said that Obama might not be receptive to his advice.

"Presidents don't want to work on the basis of others' experience," he added.

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