Exclusive: After discouraging year, U.S. officials expect review of Afghan strategy
Source: Reuters
JULY 10, 2018 / 4:57 PM / UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO
Idrees Ali, Jonathan Landay
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is preparing to undertake a review of its strategy in Afghanistan, U.S. officials told Reuters, a year after President Donald Trump begrudgingly agreed to extend America’s involvement in the 17-year-old war.
Officials said Trump has shown signs of frustration over the lack of progress since he unveiled a strategy last August that committed to an open-ended deployment of U.S. military advisers, trainers and special forces and increased air support for Afghan security forces. The goal was to force the Taliban militants to open peace talks with the Kabul government.
Trump was opposed to remaining in America’s longest war, but was convinced by his advisers to give it more time. He authorized last year the deployment an additional 3,000 U.S. troops, bringing the total to around 15,000.
Nearly a year later, the current situation is in a stalemate in which Afghan civilians are paying a heavy toll, the Taliban are expanding in rural areas but are unable to capture major urban centers and the capability of Afghan security forces remains in doubt.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-exclusive/exclusive-after-discouraging-year-u-s-officials-expect-review-of-afghan-strategy-idUSKBN1K02TN
Frustrated Trump may reconsider Afghanistan strategy
https://www.axios.com/nato-defense-spending-by-country-two-percent-0ec4aab3-7727-453a-bdad-dfefc34eef3c.html
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