The public does not hear much about the war in Afghanistan these days…..I guess since it has been raging for 18 years it is old hat for the MSM…….
First of all the bad news…….two American paratroopers were killed in country….
Two U.S. service members were killed Monday in Afghanistan, officials announced today, bringing the casualty total for the year to 15 deaths. This year’s casualty count now matches the total for 2018, previously the deadliest year for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel since the sustainment and advisory mission began in 2015.
The announcement came from the headquarters of Operation Resolute Support, the NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan troops in defending themselves. The service branch of the two troops was not identified in the announcement, nor was their location in Afghanistan or the nature of their deaths.
But in a short blog post Monday, Army. Col. Arthur Sellers, commanding officer of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, revealed the two troops were paratroopers with 3rd BCT.
There is some possible “Good News” out of Afghanistan……
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed on Monday that the administration intends to reduce the number of US ground troops in Afghanistan some time before the 2020 presidential election. Timing and size are not yet settled.
With hope that a peace deal with the Taliban might be reached leading to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in the next few months, a troop cut within the next 15 months should almost go without saying.
Pompeo said President Trump made the decision, and that he was “unambiguous” about wanting to have the number of troops cut before the election. He added that he wanted the the overall need for troops int he region could be reduced.
This announcement adds to questions about the ongoing talks with the Taliban. On the one hand, the announced troop cut might reflect an expectation that the deal is going to call for that anyhow. At the same time, it’s not clear what the point would be if the deal to withdraw outright is as close as recent indications would say.(antiwar.com)
Hope this means that we are serious about bringing the troops home….but I have a feeling that this is just a political move for the 2020 election.
“Lego Ergo Scribo”
Good luck with ever getting a peace deal with the Taliban. I don’t think peace is on their agenda as long as a foreigner lives in that country.
Best wishes, Pete.
They say the negotiations are going well….but that is propaganda. chuq
Let’s hope. If only the public would take the effort to learn what is really happening in AFG…..they would have demanded that we leave years ago. But it’s too easy to simply think that we’re over there “fighting the terrorists” as we distract ourselves here with nonsense.
I have been saying home is where our troops belong….especially in Afgh…..we succeeded in 2002 and should have left then….chuq
My neighbor just back from another three month tour in Afghanistan, with the Army reserves. We are still losing lives and spending money over there. Seems to be endless.
Exactly…a bottomless pit into which we throw money chuq