VOA: Trump, Security Team Mulling Strategic Options on Afghanistan
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is nearing a decision on a new strategy to deal with the 16-year war in Afghanistan, according to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
Several options will be considered Friday when Trump meets with Vice President Mike Pence and his national security team at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.
Speaking to reporters Thursday in Washington, Mattis said “We are coming very close to a decision and I anticipate it in the very near future.”
Mattis did not provide hints about a new strategy to fight the war in Afghanistan, the longest conflict in U.S. history, but several options will be considered Friday.
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Update #1: Trump, top aides seek to overcome divisions delaying Afghan strategy (Reuters)
Update #2: Trump studying options for new approach to Afghan war (AP)
WNU Editor: There are no good options. My prediction .... a significant increase in soldiers. Increase air support. Changing the rules of engagement for US forces. Maybe use more contractors (a big maybe). Train more Afghan soldiers. Create an even larger Afghan Special Forces unit modelled in the same manner as Iraq to take on Taliban strongholds directly. And .... the most important point of them all .... pray that it works. And while no one will say it publicly .... give a timetable of two years for this strategy to work. As to the big question .... will it work? If history is any indication, the answer will be no.
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