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 8 y ago
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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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how about No!!! The heck with them. Our Nation is the one that constantly is facing attacks. Every year more and more terroism at home and in other Nations now as well.
. Why should we build up their Nation and have nothing to show for anything, while our Nation further ruins and collapses. Look at our infrastructure, potholes and decay while we deploy over there and risk lives for nothing. Not cheaper oil, not any of their lithium, nothing. We are fighting an endless war there, because it's all about ideas. And we can't win. I support the Troops always and forever, but the heck with these countless wars that do nothing.
Over 16 years and these little expletives can't defend themselves? Not a backbone in their bodies.
When is enough Enough?!!! How many more American and Allied lives are enough? Oncemore, the safety in our home Nations has declined and worsened. We have not accomplished anything in my opinion, and it's with a heavy heart that I say that. I don't want to say that those who sacrificed did nothing, but how long is this damn War going to continue? It has no foreseeable end in sight and I question the motives of this War, it's start, and what we truly get out of it besides just trusting Afghanistan to become more democratic...
Over 14 years in Iraq and I know we still have at least the Special Forces Community there... Tired of this ...
t's amazing how much money, time, effort, and lives have gone into this bullcrap and all the while our Nation is falling apart and no safer than pre-2001. We are less safer, we have terrorism within our Nation, and this war will never win.... I don't get our politicians and leaders, they seem bent on endless wars and conflicts.
16 years and some change in Afghanistan and 14 years in Iraq... Sick of this bullcrap. I will always support the troops but there's no sense in this at all.
. Why should we build up their Nation and have nothing to show for anything, while our Nation further ruins and collapses. Look at our infrastructure, potholes and decay while we deploy over there and risk lives for nothing. Not cheaper oil, not any of their lithium, nothing. We are fighting an endless war there, because it's all about ideas. And we can't win. I support the Troops always and forever, but the heck with these countless wars that do nothing.
Over 16 years and these little expletives can't defend themselves? Not a backbone in their bodies.
When is enough Enough?!!! How many more American and Allied lives are enough? Oncemore, the safety in our home Nations has declined and worsened. We have not accomplished anything in my opinion, and it's with a heavy heart that I say that. I don't want to say that those who sacrificed did nothing, but how long is this damn War going to continue? It has no foreseeable end in sight and I question the motives of this War, it's start, and what we truly get out of it besides just trusting Afghanistan to become more democratic...
Over 14 years in Iraq and I know we still have at least the Special Forces Community there... Tired of this ...
t's amazing how much money, time, effort, and lives have gone into this bullcrap and all the while our Nation is falling apart and no safer than pre-2001. We are less safer, we have terrorism within our Nation, and this war will never win.... I don't get our politicians and leaders, they seem bent on endless wars and conflicts.
16 years and some change in Afghanistan and 14 years in Iraq... Sick of this bullcrap. I will always support the troops but there's no sense in this at all.
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