The following is the Feb. 28, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy in Brief. Read More
Tag Archives: Taliban
Report to Congress on Afghanistan and U.S. Policy
The following is the Dec. 1, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy in Brief. Read More
One Explosive Device Responsible for Deaths of 13 U.S. Service Members in Kabul Attack, Pentagon Says
A Marine assigned to 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) provides over-watch during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 21, 2021. US Marine Corps Photo
One explosive device detonation caused the death of 13 U.S. troops in an attack during the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to U.S. Central Command officials.
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Limited Coordination Between U.S., NATO Allies in Getting Afghanistan Evacuees to Airport
Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) search luggage during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 18, 2021. US Marine Corps Photo
Troops from NATO member states, including the U.S., U.K. and France, are all working in Kabul to remove citizens and Afghans eligible for resettlement out of the country. But there isn’t a coordinated effort between the allies to communicate with the Taliban or ensure people get to the Hamid Karzai International Airport safely, Pentagon officials acknowledged on Thursday. Read More
SECDEF Austin: U.S. Lacks ‘Capability’ in Kabul to Create Safe Passage for Americans, Afghans to Leave Afghanistan
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks with reporters on Afghanistan, at the Pentagon on Aug. 18, 2021. DoD Photo
This post has been updated with a statement from President Joe Biden.
The U.S. doesn’t have enough troops in Kabul to secure safe passage for tens of thousands of Americans and Afghan allies seeking to leave the country, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a press conference on Wednesday. Read More
UPDATED: Pentagon Declares Afghanistan Exodus a Non-Combatant Evacuation as U.S. Marines, Soldiers Mass in Kabul
Afghanistan civililans attempt on the airfield as a C-17 attempts to take off from the Kabul airport.
This post has been updated with additional comments from President Biden and Pentagon officials.
The mass exodus of U.S. citizens and American allies from Afghanistan is now a military-assisted non-combatant evacuation operation as the security situation in the capital of Kabul has continued to devolve, a Pentagon spokesman said on Monday. Read More
Pentagon Sending 3,000 Troops To Evacuate U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan
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 Pentagon is sending 3,000 troops – including two Marine Corps battalions – to Afghanistan to support the evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Kabul. Read More
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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Report to Congress on U.S. Policy Toward Afghanistan
The following is the March. 25, 2021 Congressional Research Service report, Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy In Brief. Read More
SOCOM Shifting To Great Power Competition Strategy, But Needs More ISR Capabilities, Commander Says
East Coast Navy SEALs participate in a nighttime exercise during TRIDENT 17 at the John C. Stennis Space Center, Miss., in 2017. US Navy Photo
Forty percent of U.S. Special Operations Command is now aligned to meet the challenges of great power competition, a shift that means the command needs modernized intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance hardware and software, and electronic warfare defenses, its commander told lawmakers Thursday. Read More
