But critics in the Pentagon say the special operations approach would repeat many of the mistakes of Iraq; although the units could attack insurgents in trouble spots, they would not be able to hold ground to keep extremists from coming back.
Other military officials note that only 12 of the 36 special operations units already in Afghanistan are being fully used. Many lack the supporting infrastructure -- surveillance drones, helicopter transport and intelligence networks -- in part because it is still needed in Iraq.
"To add more forces on top of existing forces that haven't been fully engaged makes no sense," the senior military official said. "If you don't know how you're operating the current force, why do you think adding more forces is going to work?"
According to a senior Pentagon official, among those advocating a special operations influx is Army Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute, the White House's Iraq and Afghanistan "war czar." A spokesperson for Lute did not respond to requests for comment.
Both presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, have advocated an increase in conventional forces for Afghanistan. The issue of special operations force levels has not been widely discussed in the campaign.
A move to a strategy focusing heavily on special operations would be a significant shift for the U.S. military. The current strategy, which is supported by 32,000 U.S. forces and 30,000 North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops from other nations, aims to stabilize and secure the country and foster a viable central government.
But some military planners doubt that Afghanistan is capable of the progress that Iraq has achieved. "Are we really going to take a Karzai government and prop it up?" asked another senior military official, referring to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. "If you're talking about doing that, I can't see this ever ending."
Although the Iraqi government has frequently proved corrupt and ineffectual, the population is well-educated and skilled, providing abundant human capital once security can be achieved. In addition, Iraq's oil industry and fertile agricultural sector have quickly ramped up since violence declined after nearly 30,000 additional U.S. troops arrived in 2007, a buildup strategy that some have advocated for Afghanistan.
