Tuesday, August 22, 2017

President Trump Sets Out New US Strategy For Afghanistan -- News Roundup



Daily Mail: Trump sets out new US strategy for Afghanistan claiming 'we will win' – but makes no mention of new troop infusion

* Trump announced his Afghanistan plan Monday night address to the nation
* He spoke from Ft. Myer outside Washington
* He had been expected to announce an additional 4,000 troops to help Afghanistan avoid being overrun by Islamist jihadis
* Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accompanied him to Fort Myer
* Trump's Defense Secretary and National Security Advisor argued in favor of the troop surge
* Says his own first instinct was to 'pull out'
* Tough talk includes 'Obliterating ISIS, crushing Al Qaeda'
* Blasts Pakistan's 'safe havens' for terrorists
* Trump tweeted in 2012: 'It is time to get out of Afghanistan. We are building roads and schools for people that hate us'
* Vice President Mike Pence called Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in anticipation of the speech
* Tillerson phoned top diplomats in Pakistan and India
* America's longest war began in October of 2001

President Donald Trump announced a new Afghanistan strategy Monday that relies on features of the current one: Maintaining a lethal force of U.S. troops to battle Taliban and ISIS insurgents and propping up the wobbly Afghan government – while amping up the pressure on Pakistan to stop harboring terrorists in its territory.

After a strategy review finalized with top advisors at Camp David, Trump revealed what he called a 'path forward' and a 'dramatically' different approach in a prime time address Monday night.

He called for victory and use of overwhelming force, but made no specific mention of dispatching thousands of new American troops to boost the effort, saying levels would be based on conditions on the ground.

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WNU Editor: In anticipation of President Trump's speech, the Taliban send their own message .... Rocket strikes downtown Kabul (Reuters).

President Trump Sets Out New US Strategy For Afghanistan -- News Roundup

Full text: Trump's speech on Afghanistan -- Politico
Trump renews Afghan war commitment, sees no speedy exit -- AP
Trump commits to more troops in Afghanistan, vows 'fight to win' -- Reuters
Trump Sets US Strategy but No 'Blank Check' for Afghan War -- New York Times
Trump announces plan to increase U.S. presence in Afghanistan -- ABC News
‘Attack We Will’: Trump Vows Victory in Afghanistan, Stays Silent on Troop Levels -- NBC
'We Are Not Nation-Building Again,' Trump Says While Unveiling Afghanistan Strategy -- NPR
Trump Offers Open-Ended U.S. Commitment to Shore Up Afghanistan -- Bloomberg
Trump vows 'fight to win' in Afghanistan -- BBC
We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens, says Donald Trump -- Times of India
Trump fires warning at Pakistan -- AFP
In Afghanistan strategy speech Trump slams Pakistan for providing safe havens -- DW
Donald Trump refuses to set deadline for withdrawing from Afghanistan, door open for troop increase -- ABC News Online
Donald Trump says he'll expand US military intervention in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
Trump Says It's 'Possible' for New Afghan Government to Include Taliban Elements -- Sputnik
'We won't talk troop numbers': Trump vows 'clear definition of victory' in Afghanistan (VIDEO) -- RT
In escalating America's longest war, Trump acts against his 'original instinct' -- Washington Post
TRUMP: My instinct was to pull out of Afghanistan — here's why I changed my mind -- Business Insider
Trump faces the grim reality of Afghanistan: No quick path to victory and no clear way out -- Washington Post
Inside the White House: How Trump Took Command to Get the Afghanistan Plan He Wanted -- Mother Jones
Afghanistan speech: Trump rejects 'timetables,' ups pressure on Pakistan, refocuses on 'killing terrorists' -- Fox News
Trump declares US will 'win' in Afghanistan, but gives few details -- CNN
Analysis: Trump vows to win the seemingly unwinnable war -- AP

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