As The Top U.S. Commander In Afghanistan Prepares To Leave, He Promises That U.S. Forces Are Here To Stay

U.S. Army General John Campbell, the commander of international and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, speaks during a news conference at Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan February 13, 2016. REUTERS/OMAR SOBHANI

Washington Post: The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan is leaving, but the troops are staying

KABUL — Gen. John. F. Campbell, commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, arrived here 18 months ago expecting to be the U.S. military leader who would bring the war to a close. On Saturday, as he prepares to hand-off command to his successor, Campbell was instead promising that coalition forces “are here to stay.”

“Not only the U.S., but the whole international community, are now starting to talk about long-term commitment,” Campbell told reporters at what was billed as his last news conference before Army Lt. Gen. John W. “Mick” Nicholson Jr. takes over command of coalition forces in early March. “It ought to give confidence to the Afghan people and also send a message to the Taliban too: What they thought in 2015 — everyone is leaving, and they could wait us out, that is no longer the case here.”

Campbell’s remarks reflect just how much the Obama administration’s posture toward Afghanistan has changed over the past two years.

Read more ....

Update: Outgoing U.S. commander says mission in Afghanistan not changing (Reuters).

WNU Editor: Meanwhile .... the war in Afghanistan continues .... Taliban, Using Humvees Stolen From Army, Attack Check Post (NYT), with even the Islamic Satte and the Taliban fighting amongst themselves .... Taliban, Islamic State clash in eastern Afghanistan (Long War Journal).