U.S. military to pitch revised Afghan war plan to Trump in next week
Source: Reuters
Thu May 4, 2017 | 11:40am EDT
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali | WASHINGTON
The U.S. military said on Thursday it will offer recommendations on the war in Afghanistan to President Donald Trump within the next week, amid expectations of a request for thousands of more troops to break a stalemate with Taliban insurgents.
Theresa Whelan, acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations, low-intensity conflict, testified to the Senate that the Pentagon was completing its review of potential adjustments to U.S. war plans. "I expect that these proposals will go to the President within the next week and the intent is to do just that, to move beyond the stalemate," Whelan said.
It has been three months since Army General John Nicholson, who leads U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, said he needed "a few thousand" additional forces, some potentially drawn from U.S. allies. Current and former U.S. officials say discussions revolve around adding 3,000 to 5,000 troops. Those forces are expected to be largely comprised of trainers to support Afghan forces, as well as air crews.
So far, Trump has offered little clarity about whether he might approve more forces for Afghanistan, where some 8,400 U.S. troops remain more than 15 years after the Islamist Taliban government was toppled by U.S.-backed Afghan forces.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-trump-idUSKBN1801W4
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