Posted on Feb 2, 2016
Lawmakers to Press Commander on Troop Levels for Afghan War
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The top American commander in Afghanistan faces skeptical lawmakers amid concerns that worsening security conditions demand a greater number of U.S. forces to ensure the gains made in the war-torn country since 2001 aren't lost.
Army Gen. John F. Campbell is slated to testify on Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee, where members are expected to press him on President Barack Obama's plan to cut American troop levels from 9,800 to 5,500 before he leaves office next January. Obama had backtracked from his initial plan to reduce the U.S. force to 1,000 by the end of 2016.
Republicans have long assailed Obama's exit strategy, arguing that conditions on the ground in Afghanistan, not a calendar, should determine the pace of the withdrawal. With the Taliban staging new offensives and the Islamic State extremist group seeking a presence in Afghanistan, congressional Democrats also are raising the prospect of an extended stay.
"I've always believed that putting a time limit on it is a mistake," Republican Rep. Mac Thornberry, the committee chairman, said Monday. "To say this is going to take five years, 10 years or 50 years, nobody can say that."
Army Gen. John F. Campbell is slated to testify on Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee, where members are expected to press him on President Barack Obama's plan to cut American troop levels from 9,800 to 5,500 before he leaves office next January. Obama had backtracked from his initial plan to reduce the U.S. force to 1,000 by the end of 2016.
Republicans have long assailed Obama's exit strategy, arguing that conditions on the ground in Afghanistan, not a calendar, should determine the pace of the withdrawal. With the Taliban staging new offensives and the Islamic State extremist group seeking a presence in Afghanistan, congressional Democrats also are raising the prospect of an extended stay.
"I've always believed that putting a time limit on it is a mistake," Republican Rep. Mac Thornberry, the committee chairman, said Monday. "To say this is going to take five years, 10 years or 50 years, nobody can say that."
Lawmakers to Press Commander on Troop Levels for Afghan War
Posted from military.com
Politics
Strategy
Afghanistan
Troops
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 2
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Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If they want to talk troop strength, it should be in closed door meetings, not a "public" fourm. If they want to discuss means and methods of success in the Stan, it should be the same. The only thing this and other congressional meetings or hearings do is put out too much info that doesn't need to be out, and allows our foes to either wait us out, or hit us at the worst possible time. I think articles like this and congress BOTH are bad for those still over there, and those on the way.
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I have to agree. It was a bad mistake to telegraph our draw down and the lower numbers create more dangers for the once remaining.
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