Literally one day after interim US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan
promised that there would be no drawdown of US forces from Afghanistan
without NATO approval, officials are telling reporters that a cut of 1,000, or even more, troops is about to be announced.
This cut in troops would be done is part of an “efficiency drive” that
the new commander wants to launch in Afghanistan. This would present it
as belt-tightening, not a military drawdown as part of a deescalation.
President Trump appears keen for a deescalation at any rate, given how
poorly the war is going, and is putting his backing behind the peace
talks with the Taliban, which if successful might lead to an outright
withdrawal.
Given how many hawks within the administration and Congress are opposed
to drawdowns on any terms, this might be an ideal alternative for
President Trump, who can make at least some troop cuts without having to
call them cuts.
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Well, trump sent 7000 combat troops to Afghanistan in 2017. If they withdraw 1000, seems like it is going to be hard to get back to troop levels which existed when he took office.
So are we going to pay for mercenaries to run the CIA’s opium poppy/heroin distribution network then??
LOL Efficiency and the US military machine are polar opposites!!!
Withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan (and elsewhere) would be very efficient.
Viva this particular Pentagon efficiency drive, may it spiral out of control like every other Pentagon project.