Top US commander in Afghanistan relinquishes post

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KATHY GANNON

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan relinquished his position at a ceremony in the capital Kabul on Monday, taking the United States a step closer to ending its 20-year war. The move came as Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country.

Another four-star general will assume authority from his U.S.-based post to conduct possible airstrikes in defense of Afghan government forces, at least until the U.S. withdrawal concludes by Aug. 31.

Gen. Scott Miller has served as America’s top commander in Afghanistan since 2018. He handed over command of what has become known as America’s “forever war” in its waning days to Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command. McKenzie will operate from Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

The handover took place in the heavily fortified Resolute Support headquarters in the heart of Kabul at a time of rapid territorial gains by Taliban insurgents across Afghanistan.



FILE - In this June 29, 2021 file photo, U.S. Army Gen. Scott Miller, the U.S.'s top general in Afghanistan, speaks to journalists at the Resolute Support headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Miller is to hand over his command at a ceremony in the capital of Kabul on Monday, July 12, 2021, as America winds down its 20-year military presence and Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country. (AP Photo/Ahmad Seir, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-10fe97c34200c7677d2bd047d92f822b

[riversedge]

1. I am bitter sweet about this.

[bluestarone]

2. I'm assuming he's AGAINST Joe's decision?

Oh well then too bad!

[JI7]

5. Perhaps, but this move seems to be more about just transitioning

to a different position he will have and not about his personal views.

[OnlinePoker]

3. The Taliban will have control of the majority of the country by the end of the year.

20 years, trillions of dollars, thousands of lives. It was all a waste.

[IronLionZion]

4. The mission was never to destroy the Taliban

or even to build up an Afghan government. 20 years is enough. One of my coworkers is a gold star widow from this war. A classmate from school has PTSD from his time as a Army ranger in Afghanistan.

Enough is enough. Keeping US troops there longer is very unlikely to do much to keep out the Taliban or help Afghanis set up their government any further.

[bluestarone]

6. Well i thought PART of this mission did turned into

Training the Afghans to defend their country, BUT if 20 years doesn't do it, then NOTHING will in my eyes! It's times for the troops to come home.

[IronLionZion]

7. If the Taliban is more successful than US trained Afghanis

then it's clearly not working out after 20 years.

[Worried2020]

8. If the USA can't win a war with a country the likes of Afghanistan,

.

WTF are they doing pissing off countries like Russia and China?

Some sorta twisted death wish?



W

[IronLionZion]

9. Afghanistan kicked out the Russians in half the time

and that war bankrupted the Soviet Union causing it to break apart.