Tag Archives: Afghan National Army

Panel: U.S. Began Afghanistan War with Unrealistic Expectations

Panel: U.S. Began Afghanistan War with Unrealistic Expectations

U.S. Soldiers and contractors load High Mobility Multi-purposed Wheeled Vehicles, HUMVs, to be sent for transport in support of the Resolute Support retrograde mission in Afghanistan on July 13, 2020. US Army Photo

American expectations of what could be achieved in Afghanistan – establishing a democracy by defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban – were too high, and initially too narrowly focused on revenge and justice following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, two national security experts said Thursday.
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Nominee to Lead U.S., Coalition Forces in Afghanistan Won’t Talk Timelines

Nominee to Lead U.S., Coalition Forces in Afghanistan Won’t Talk Timelines

Army Lt. Gen. Austin S. Miller testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 19, 2018. DoD Photo

The nominee to lead American and coalition forces in Afghanistan said the key to safely withdrawing U.S. and coalition troops lie in reaching a political solution among the disparate parties and not simply disrupting Taliban operations or hunting down terrorist groups like the Islamic State, al Qaeda or the Haqqani Network. Read More

Report: U.S., NATO Indirectly Created Class of Afghan Warlords by Funding Poorly Managed Projects

Report: U.S., NATO Indirectly Created Class of Afghan Warlords by Funding Poorly Managed Projects

A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) provides security for Marine advisors during an advising mission with 1st Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps as the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces conduct Operation Maiwand 12 at Camp Shorserack, Afghanistan, March 12, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

The United States, NATO and coalition partners indirectly created more warlords “who were just as bad as the terrorists themselves” for Afghans by pouring huge amounts of money into grandiose projects without proper oversight and coordination, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said Thursday. Read More

Marine Commander in Southwest Afghanistan Strikes Optimistic Tone on Progress in Fight Against Taliban

Marine Commander in Southwest Afghanistan Strikes Optimistic Tone on Progress in Fight Against Taliban

A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest (TFSW) provides security for Marine advisors during an advising mission with 1st Brigade, Afghan National Army (ANA) 215th Corps as the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces conduct Operation Maiwand 12 at Camp Shorserack, Afghanistan, March 12, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

A recently returned U.S. commander in Afghanistan gave an optimistic assessment of the combined progress of U.S. and Afghan forces against the Taliban. Read More

Mattis, Dunford: War In Afghanistan Not Nearing an End Yet, But Clear Progress Being Made

Mattis, Dunford: War In Afghanistan Not Nearing an End Yet, But Clear Progress Being Made

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Afghanistan with the US Secretary of Defense James Mattis. The two met with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and other high-level officials. Discussions focused on the NATO-Afghanistan partnership, including the ongoing NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in support of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. DOD photo.

The defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told a Senate committee today that the war in Afghanistan is not yet near a point of resolution but that there are “clear and achievable” goals in the near-term. Read More

SECDEF Mattis Predicts An Extended Fight in Afghanistan

SECDEF Mattis Predicts An Extended Fight in Afghanistan

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in Kabul, Afghanistan on April 24, 2017. DoD Photo

In the wake of a surprise attack that killed at least 160 Afghan soldiers last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis said “the fight is going to go on” against terrorism and not just in Afghanistan. Read More