Posted on Feb 10, 2017
Thousands more troops needed in Afghanistan, top commander tells Congress
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Gen. John Nicholson Jr., commander of United States Forces Afghanistan, said additional forces are needed in Afghanistan and they could be either U.S. or coalition allies' forces. He said the forces would participate in advising and training of Afghan troops “below the corps level.” "The new forces would not be for counter-terrorism efforts and direct missions against terrorist cells."
Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said recent decisions on force levels and involvement have “tied the hands of our military in Afghanistan” and endangered both deployed troops lives and U.S. national security.
“Instead of trying to win, we settled for just trying not to lose,” he said. “Time and time again, we saw troop withdrawals that seemed to have a lot more to do with American politics than conditions on the ground in Afghanistan…
Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said recent decisions on force levels and involvement have “tied the hands of our military in Afghanistan” and endangered both deployed troops lives and U.S. national security.
“Instead of trying to win, we settled for just trying not to lose,” he said. “Time and time again, we saw troop withdrawals that seemed to have a lot more to do with American politics than conditions on the ground in Afghanistan…
Thousands more troops needed in Afghanistan, top commander tells Congress
Posted from militarytimes.com
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 7
Posted 7 y ago
I've been there 3 times, as many of you have or even more. We know the truth. Even sending millions of more troops to that country would not make a difference. We will never fully understand that culture.... it is very complex. I had a good time on my deployments, met a lot of locals, passed out a lot of aid packages,drank a lot of tea, made some lasting Afghan friends, but it is time to let it go.
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MCPO Roger Collins
7 y
We seem to be slow learners compared to the Russians. Get the heck out of there, monitor the activities by satellite and blow them to pieces with stand off unmanned weapons if nefarious activities are spotted.
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Posted 7 y ago
15 years in Afghanistan. We went to get A.Q. for 9-11. We stayed to export democracy and interdict opium production. There is no democracy in Afghanistan and opium production has DOUBLED leaving CONUS awash in cheap heroin. I think we've done enough. Leave Afghanistan to their fate.
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CPT (Join to see)
7 y
Maj Mike Sciales . How are you Sir? Always good when you weigh in. Thinking implosion here.
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Maj Mike Sciales
7 y
CPT (Join to see) - been fine, thanks for asking! lots of traveling to the Gulf region. You?
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Has there ever been a General who asked for fewer troops? Westmoreland was a prime example of the military mentality to accomplish the mission provide as many and as much necessary to overcome the enemy. It may work in a world war, but not so much in the modern day of limited objectives, political posturing and social meddling in the affairs of others.
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