Trump has made Afghanistan decision after 'rigorous' review: Mattis

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-military-idUSKCN1B00FR
Published: Aug 20, 2017
Author: Idrees
Post Date: 2017-08-20 12:33:08 by A K A Stone
Views: 7016

AMMAN, Reuters - President Donald Trump has made a decision on the United States' strategy for Afghanistan after a "sufficiently rigorous" review process, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday.

However, Mattis did not provide details on when the White House would make an announcement or what the decision was on Afghanistan, where fighting still rages more than 15 years after U.S. forces invaded and overthrew a Taliban government.

Soon after taking office in January, the Trump administration began a review of U.S. policy on Afghanistan, which has expanded into a broader South Asia review.

"I am very comfortable that the strategic process was sufficiently rigorous and did not go in with a pre-set position," Mattis told reporters traveling with him aboard a military aircraft to Jordan. "The president has made a decision. As he said, he wants to be the one to announce it to the American people."

After Trump met with his national security aides on Friday to review an array of options for Afghan strategy, the White House said no decision had been made on whether he would commit more troops to America's longest war. However, Trump tweeted on Saturday: "many decisions made, including on Afghanistan".

U.S. officials have told Reuters that the president was expected to be briefed on options ranging from a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to a modest increase.

One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Trump's top national security aides are backing adding between 3,000 and 5,000 troops and allowing them to embed with Afghan forces closer to combat.

Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Kaine said lawmakers were waiting for the Trump administration to articulate its strategy on Afghanistan before making a judgment on troops.

"The troop strength question is sort of cart before the horse," Kaine told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "The real question is what is our strategy? And then when you lay out the strategy, the troop strength question can kind of answer itself."

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told "Fox News Sunday" that he would oppose sending more troops.

"I don't believe putting more American soldiers in Afghanistan is the answer," he said, adding that the goal should be to help Afghanistan work toward having and maintaining a stable government.

Michael Kugelman, with the Woodrow Wilson Center think tank in Washington, said an extended strategy review was somewhat positive because it showed that all options were being considered. However, recent gains by Taliban militants made it imperative that a strategy be announced soon.

According to U.S. estimates, government forces control less than 60 percent of Afghanistan, with almost half the country either contested or under the control of the insurgents.

"The Taliban insurgency has never been stronger... We need a strategy to address all this, and fast," Kugelman said.

Post Comment   Private Reply

#1: buckeroo    To: A K A Stone (#0)

Of course the article is just a "teaser." So, lets wager Trump's decision. HE IS GOING TO WAR!!

buckeroo posted on 2017-08-20 12:44:05   Reply   Private Reply

#2: A K A Stone    To: buckeroo (#1)

Of course the article is just a "teaser." So, lets wager Trump's decision. HE IS GOING TO WAR!!

I thought about what it would be also. I was thinking the opposite. I think he is withdrawing. Lets see who has better political instincts me or you.

A K A Stone posted on 2017-08-20 12:45:43   Reply   Private Reply

#3: buckeroo    To: A K A Stone (#2)

We need to put cash on this "wager." How much are ya willing to lose?

buckeroo posted on 2017-08-20 12:52:09   Reply   Private Reply

#4: A K A Stone    To: buckeroo (#3)

We need to put cash on this "wager." How much are ya willing to lose?

Not practical on here buck.

Besides you need your money for booze and pills.

A K A Stone posted on 2017-08-20 12:57:53   Reply   Private Reply

#5: buckeroo    To: A K A Stone (#4)

Chicken shit, you are afraid to lose one more dime on your well known LOST opinions.

buckeroo posted on 2017-08-20 13:03:56   Reply   Private Reply

#6: A K A Stone    To: buckeroo (#5)

Give me your name home phone and address and we will make the bet. Then I will call you to finalize it.

I look forward to receiving the information.

A K A Stone posted on 2017-08-20 13:37:58   Reply   Private Reply

#7: buckeroo    To: A K A Stone (#6)

I doubt you have the money to pay for an international phone call such as where I live (+501) but I will private chat the data.

buckeroo posted on 2017-08-20 13:41:09   Reply   Private Reply

#8: Hondo68    To: buckeroo, bomb Pakistan, *Neo-Lib Chickenhawk Wars* (#5)

Trump will increase troop levels in Afghanistan, and bomb Pakistan.

As the Iraq invasion was spread to Syria, Afganistan will be spread to Pakistan. It's the globalist neocon establishments way.

Senator McCain, Hillary, Barack Obongo and John F'n Kerry approve.

Hondo68 posted on 2017-08-20 13:44:55   Reply   Private Reply

#9: buckeroo    To: hondo68 (#8)

Trump will increase troop levels in Afghanistan, and bomb Pakistan.

The man is so crass, he will initiate a war with anyone that suggests he needs a new coiffure.

buckeroo posted on 2017-08-20 14:01:27   Reply   Private Reply

#10: A K A Stone    To: buckeroo (#7)

I doubt you have the money to pay

Don't worry about how much it costs. I can cover it.

Just give me the information now please.

A K A Stone posted on 2017-08-20 14:04:55   Reply   Private Reply

#11: Hondo68    To: buckeroo (#9)

Afghanistan Yellowcake Uranium

Inside Trump’s Tortured Search for a Winning Strategy in Afghanistan

Whichever military proposal wins out, the mining idea remains a top priority for Trump. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is currently conducting an overall assessment of mining opportunities in Afghanistan, while Tillerson, the former head of ExxonMobil, is looking at whether the country would be stable enough for long-term American investments.

Silver, the chemical executive who pitched Trump on the idea, said Afghanistan’s mineral wealth could provide a similar boost to the one China experienced during the 1990s. “When China opened to the world in the early ’90s under Deng [Xiaoping]’s policy of global engagement, the sale of minerals formed the backbone of their GDP growth,” Silver told FP.

The tantalizing idea that Afghanistan’s mineral potential could transform the country and save the fragile Kabul government has proved elusive. Gen. David Petraeus, who was commander of U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan in 2010-2011, touted the country’s mineral wealth as offering “stunning potential.” But Afghanistan lacks the infrastructure of roads, trains, and bridges needed to extract the minerals, not to mention the security required to ensure private companies can operate safely.

Coveted rare-earth minerals in Afghanistan are located in Helmand province in the country’s southwest, most of which is now controlled by Taliban militants. Moreover, commodity prices for iron and copper have sharply declined in recent years, and the Afghan government has been accused of corruption in some of its mining ventures.

Trump will protect the Opium Poppies, Yellowcake Uranium, and Rare Earth minerals for his business associates. Hillary is an experienced Yellowcake sales rep for them.

Hondo68 posted on 2017-08-20 14:36:08   Reply   Private Reply

#12: A K A Stone    To: hondo68 (#11)

People would respect you more if you didn't just make up stuff.

Your political views are legitimate. But you come off as a clown with your made up bullshit and your stupid spam tagline i'm about to delete.

Your tagline makes the pages and omments look stupid with your spam comment over and over. Because of you i have thought about disabling tag lines altogether.

A K A Stone posted on 2017-08-20 14:49:26   Reply   Private Reply

#13: Hondo68    To: A K A Stone (#12)

Because of you i have thought about disabling tag lines altogether

Test

Is this better?

Hondo68 posted on 2017-08-20 15:33:49   Reply   Private Reply

#14: A K A Stone    To: hondo68 (#13)

Ok that was funny.

It is not the content. It is a big graphic seen every few lines over and over.

A K A Stone posted on 2017-08-20 15:37:46   Reply   Private Reply

#15: Vicomte13    To: A K A Stone (#2)

I thought about what it would be also. I was thinking the opposite. I think he is withdrawing. Lets see who has better political instincts me or you.

I'll say that I HOPE he is withdrawing, because that is the right decision (given that we really can't find the political will to deploy the million troops, carry out the crusade and then permanently occupy the country that would be required to actually WIN it.)

Trump is unpredictable, and he campaigned on WINNING in the Middle East, so I'm prepared for either answer - but I hope that the answer he gives is your prediction, because it's better for this country if we end that nonsense now.

Vicomte13 posted on 2017-08-20 16:40:22   Reply   Private Reply

#16: Tooconservative    To: buckeroo, A K A Stone (#7)

I doubt you have the money to pay for an international phone call such as where I live (+501) but I will private chat the data.

Belize? Really?

You and John McAfee, eh?

I saw that documentary about him. Weird stuff.

Tooconservative posted on 2017-08-20 23:03:53   Reply   Private Reply

#17: Tooconservative    To: A K A Stone (#14)

It is not the content. It is a big graphic seen every few lines over and over.

I've bozoed people for less. But I am very very shallow and petty.     : )

Tooconservative posted on 2017-08-20 23:05:39   Reply   Private Reply

#18: Hondo68    To: A K A Stone, Principled Realism, more war, buckeroo (#2)

I think he is withdrawing.

Speech starts @32:00

Principled Realism @53:18

Lindsey Graham and John McCain are ecstatic, at the war expansion. They LOVE Trump now!

Hondo68 posted on 2017-08-21 23:56:18   Reply   Private Reply

#19: Fred Mertz    To: A K A Stone, buckeroo (#2)

I thought about what it would be also. I was thinking the opposite. I think he is withdrawing. Lets see who has better political instincts me or you.

You're a retard and bucky has you and Trump nailed.

Good thing you didn't bet bucky. Cluck-cluck.

Fred Mertz posted on 2017-08-22 00:24:03   Reply   Private Reply

#20: misterwhite    To: A K A Stone (#0)

One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Trump's top national security aides are backing adding between 3,000 and 5,000 troops

So much for that "anonymous official". More fake news.

misterwhite posted on 2017-08-22 09:10:15   Reply   Private Reply

#21: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#16)

Belize? Really?

Belize is nice. We spent two weeks there about 15 years ago. Divided our time between the mainland and Ambergris Caye. Probably commercialized now, but back then it wasn't well known.

misterwhite posted on 2017-08-22 09:21:09   Reply   Private Reply