As President Barack Obama continues to ponder the future of American troops in Afghanistan, U.S. Rep. David Price stressed this week that the matter isn’t just one for the military.

"Nobody thinks this should be a rushed decision – or a decision that should just be about the military,” Price said. “We have to be aware of the security requirements to back up national policy – not military action for its own sake.”

Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, returned Monday from a week-long swing through the Middle East, reports Barb Barrett. While there, he spent three days in Afghanistan meeting with troops, generals and Afghan government officials.

Price said in an interview he doesn’t expect to brief the White House on the visit, but he did speak with the State Department before the trip, and he stressed afterward that Obama shouldn’t rush into a decision on Afghanistan.

"He should take the time and consideration he needs to to make the decision in a careful and responsible way,” Price said.

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U.S. Sen. Richard Burr returned yesterday from a weekend trip to Afghanistan to meet with foreign leaders, military officials and soldiers.

Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, sits on both the Senate Armed Services and Select Intelligence committees, Barb Barrett reports. He also is the top GOP member on Veterans Affairs.

He met separately with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah, who face a run-off election after widespread problems with the national election that took place this summer. He told both how important a clean run-off is to earn the support of Americans who want to see a legitimate presidency.

"As I told both President Karzai and Dr. Abdullah, the most important outcome of this election is not who wins, but that they both join together with the Afghan people to rid the country of the Taliban’s influence and provide security for the people so that ultimately coalition forces will no longer be needed for protection," Burr said in a letter he wrote to constituents about the trip.

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U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan spent the last two days in Afghanistan talking to commanders and troops, the U.S. ambassador Karl Eikenberry and President Hamid Karzai.

Her impressions after visiting two of the country's most dangerous provinces, Kandahar and Helmand, were that U.S. troops are doing a great job under harsh conditions, reports Lynn Bonner.

"They're definitely committed to what they're doing," she said in a Memorial Day conference call with reporters.

Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, went to the Middle East with a contingent of other senators on her first overseas trip since taking office.

One of the challenges for the U.S. is to convince the Afghan people "we aren’t going to desert them," Hagan said. "They don't support the Taliban at all. We need to convince them that the Afghan government can provide a peaceful life."

It will take time to develop leaders in a country that has endured three decades of war, Hagan said.

The senators met Karzai at his palace, Hagan said, where the president was very warm and receptive.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama ordered more troops to Afgahnistan, including 4,000 from the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg to train Afghan forces. About 300 Marines from Camp Lejeune left for the country last week.

Karzai told the senators that the "extra troops were very important," Hagan said, and that "he needs civilians to help rebuild infrastructure in his country."

The senators told Karzai of their concerns that he fight corruption in his country and look to build national leadership from people of all tribes and ethnic groups.