Top US commander says he's short 'few thousand' troops in Afghanistan
Source: The Hill
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Thursday that he is short “a few thousand” troops in the mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces.
“I have adequate resources in my counterterrorism mission,” Gen. John Nicholson told the Senate Armed Service Committee. “In my train, advise and assist mission, however, we have a shortfall of a few thousand. This is in the NATO train, advise and assist mission, so it can come from America or its allies.”
Nicholson’s testimony before the committee is the first since President Trump’s inauguration, providing the first insight into how the new commander in chief might handle a war that received little attention on the campaign trail.
Right now, there are about 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan on a dual mission of training, advising and assisting Afghan forces in their fight against the Taliban and conducting counterterrorism missions against groups such as al Qaeda. About 7,000 are dedicated to the NATO mission.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/318673-top-us-commander-says-hes-short-few-thousand-troops-in-afghanistan
= new reply since forum marked as read
