Trump Authorizes Pentagon to Set Troop Levels in Afghanistan
Local Editor
US President Donald Trump has given the Pentagon complete authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan, hours after his War Secretary suggested the US was losing the war.
Secretary James Mattis told Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on ‘Defense' that the President had delegated him complete authority over the number of troops, as he had previously done for the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
The day before, Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the US was "not winning" the war in Afghanistan.
"The Taliban had a good year last year, and they're trying to have a good one this year," he said. "Right now, I believe the enemy is surging."
Many felt Mattis was hinting he wanted to send more troops to the country. General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan, said earlier this year that he needs "a few thousand" more troops in the fight against Daesh [ISIS/ISIL], the Taliban, and other militant groups.
In a statement on Wednesday, however, Mattis said his newfound authority "does not in itself change the force levels for Afghanistan".
"Rather, it ensures the Department of ‘Defense' can facilitate our missions and align our commitment to the rapidly evolving security situation, giving our troops greater latitude to provide air power and other vital support," Mattis continued.
The number of troops in Afghanistan was capped at around 8,400 under President Barack Obama - a significant drop from the 100,000 he deployed in 2011.
Some in the Pentagon have complained that the Obama White House's troop management system prevented them from acting quickly, and obscured the true number of troops in the country.
In some instances, the military would call in private contractors or temporary forces to avoid exceeding Obama-imposed troop limits.
More than 2,300 Americans were killed and more than 17,000 were wounded in Afghanistan since the US started the war in 2001.
Mattis told the Armed Services Committee he hoped to brief them on a new plan by mid-July.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
