Senate Armed Forces Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said today, on the eighth anniversary of 9/11, that further steps to equip the Afghanistan army should be taken before sending additional U.S. troops into the country.

"We've been pressing this issue: more trainers, a larger Afghan army, more equipment to Afghanistan for about six months at least," Levin said at a press conference today. "These are the steps that we need to take before we consider additional combat forces in Afghanistan."

"I think there is a major consensus in strengthening the Afghan army," Levin continued. "I think the American people support and I support, I think most of my colleagues would support, getting essential equipment...to the Afghan army so that they can take major responsibility for their own security."

In May, President Obama committed 21,000 additional troops to the country with the same goals Levin outlined today. After August became the deadliest month yet, Gen. Stanley McChrystal called for a "revised implementation strategy" and was expected to call for more troops.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that she sees little support within Congress for sending additional troops to the country.

Asked about her comment at the White House daily briefing yesterday, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said "the assessment that has been delivered to Central Command, to the Pentagon, and to the White House from General McChrystal is part of a rigorous assessment process that the President wanted instituted upon coming into office, and to reassess our strategy in this very important region of the world. That continues to be discussed here and at the Pentagon."

Levin, asked today if he agrees with Pelosi, said, "I think there is a significant number of people in the country that have...questions about deepening our military involvement in Afghanistan."

Levin discussed the issue on the Senate floor this morning as well.

"I believe that taking those steps on an urgent basis, while completing the previously planned and announced increase in U.S. combat forces, provides the best chance of success for our mission: preventing Afghanistan from again being run by a Taliban government which harbors and supports Al-Qaeda," he said.