Monday, July 24, 2017

U.S. Facing Many Challenges In Afghanistan

A US Marine in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, looks out through the scope of his assault rifle.

CNN: Marines facing 'discouraging' challenges in Afghanistan

Camp Shorab, Afghanistan (CNN)The plume of smoke and dust rose over the runway, high above the now-deserted but once costly and vital control towers.

Then a second rocket slammed into the tarmac just feet away from where a C130 cargo plane would imminently land to ferry us out.

The Marines with us at first appeared unfazed. Some were perhaps young and new to it all, while the older ones stood tall, not flinching. I crouched behind a wheel until those tires were used to race us back toward a shelter.

Seven years ago, it would have been mere minutes before that Taliban rocket team was bombed in retaliation by US forces protecting a thousands-strong base. But in 2017, the US Marines here -- all 300 of them -- seem oddly vulnerable.

Read more ....

More News On The U.S. Assessing Its Afghan Strategy

As U.S. weighs Afghan strategy, hopes set on fledgling Air Force -- Reuters
Mattis: Authority delegated by Trump in Afghanistan is tactical, not strategic -- Marine Times
U.S. pledges to annihilate ISIS in Afghanistan in 5 months. It won't be easy -- Philly.com/Washington Post
Jim Mattis Says U.S. Afghan Strategy is Nearing Completion -- WSJ
Trump at Pentagon to Review New Strategy for Afghanistan -- Military.com
Trump Won’t Yet Commit To Sending More Troops To Afghanistan -- Task & Purpose/Stars and Stripes
US’ Afghanistan strategy -- MK Bhadrakumar, Tribune

1 comment:

Unknown said...

The U.S.'s biggest enemy in Afghanistan is Pakistan.