The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Thursday that he needs several thousand more troops to help Afghan government forces break a stalemate with the Taliban less than a year after President Obama drew down American forces.
Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr. told the Senate Armed Services Committee that more troops are needed to help train Afghanistan’s military and police forces as they battle Taliban insurgents, Islamic State militants and other militias.
“We have a shortfall of a few thousand,” he said. He said the troops could come from the United States or other countries in the international coalition in Afghanistan.
President Trump said little about America’s longest war, now in its 16th year, during the campaign last year or since taking office. He has spoken far more often about U.S. military efforts to defeat Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, where the militants have steadily lost ground over the last year.
Six Afghan staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were shot and killed and two others abducted in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials said.
The killings took place as the Red Cross convoy was distributing livestock in a remote district of Jowzjan province, in an…
Six Afghan staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross were shot and killed and two others abducted in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, officials said.
The killings took place as the Red Cross convoy was distributing livestock in a remote district of Jowzjan province, in an…
The Taliban, in contrast, controls more territory now than at any point since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, according to United Nations estimates. And the Pentagon has far more troops in Afghanistan than in Iraq and Syria.
In July, President Obama ordered a reduction of U.S. troops to 8,400 from 9,800 by the end of 2016, backing off his 2008 campaign promise to extricate the U.S. from the punishing war.
Nicholson, commander of U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Afghanistan, oversees about 6,300 NATO troops from 38 countries in addition to U.S. troops.
Nicholson wants more advisors to assist Afghan army commanders at the brigade level, rather than at the higher corps level, he said.
U.S. special operations troops routinely accompany and advise Afghan forces on combat missions, while U.S. fighter jets and drones provide air support and surveillance. The U.S. also has a counter-terrorism mission, which Nicholson said was adequately staffed, to track and kill militant leaders.
Nicholson described the war against the Taliban as “a stalemate.” He said Afghan forces had suffered twice as many casualties in the last two years as U.S. forces did in 10 years.
The Afghan government controls about 57% of the country’s populated districts, down from about 72% in November 2015, according to a report released Jan. 30 by the Pentagon’s Special Investigator General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.
“Our Afghan partners have been sustaining very significant losses,” Nicholson said. “And I’m not sure that’s sustainable.”
Nicholson also said Russia was “legitimizing” the Taliban by creating a “false narrative” that the fundamentalist Sunni Muslims insurgents are fighting Islamic State militants, who are also Sunni Muslims, in Afghanistan.
He said Iran continues to arm and fund Shiite Muslim fighters in Afghanistan.
"When we look at Russian and Iranian actions in Afghanistan, I believe that… they’re trying to undermine the United States and NATO and prevent this strong partnership that we have with the Afghans in the region," he added.
After an unusually bitter confirmation battle, Jeff Sessions was confirmed as U.S. attorney general. L.A.’s City Council agreed to pay $1.5-million to the family of Ezell Ford. Welcome to the new Ikea. ICYMI: It’s huge! California’s emergency drought rules will be staying in place — at least for the near future.
After an unusually bitter confirmation battle, Jeff Sessions was confirmed as U.S. attorney general. L.A.’s City Council agreed to pay $1.5-million to the family of Ezell Ford. Welcome to the new Ikea. ICYMI: It’s huge! California’s emergency drought rules will be staying in place — at least for the near future.
After an unusually bitter confirmation battle, Jeff Sessions was confirmed as U.S. attorney general. L.A.’s City Council agreed to pay $1.5-million to the family of Ezell Ford. Welcome to the new Ikea. ICYMI: It’s huge! California’s emergency drought rules will be staying in place — at least for the near future.
After an unusually bitter confirmation battle, Jeff Sessions was confirmed as U.S. attorney general. L.A.’s City Council agreed to pay $1.5-million to the family of Ezell Ford. Welcome to the new Ikea. ICYMI: It’s huge! California’s emergency drought rules will be staying in place — at least for the near future.
We sent our curiosity correspondent, Benjamin Crutcher, to the largest Ikea in the United States to see what it is like in person. Read more >>
We sent our curiosity correspondent, Benjamin Crutcher, to the largest Ikea in the United States to see what it is like in person. Read more >>
Sophomore LaMelo Ball of Chino Hills scored 92 points Tuesday night in a 146-123 victory over visiting Los Osos.
Sophomore LaMelo Ball of Chino Hills scored 92 points Tuesday night in a 146-123 victory over visiting Los Osos.
Ford’s killing after a scuffle with two officers in South L.A. added to the national outcry over police killings.
Ford’s killing after a scuffle with two officers in South L.A. added to the national outcry over police killings.
The Lucerne Valley Mustangs refuse to quit, a week in the life of P‑22, Senate rebukes Elizabeth Warren, and judges sharply question attorneys for both sides on Trump’s travel ban.
The Lucerne Valley Mustangs refuse to quit, a week in the life of P‑22, Senate rebukes Elizabeth Warren, and judges sharply question attorneys for both sides on Trump’s travel ban.
william.hennigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @wjhenn
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