U.S. Pledges To Continue Funding The Afghan Army

Afghan recruits shortly before graduation from the Kabul Military Training Center. Yochi Dreazen/The Wall Street Journal

Reuters: U.S. pledges to keep funding Afghans amid calls for slower pullout

(Reuters) - The United States assured Afghanistan's leaders on Monday it would keep funding Afghan security forces at a targeted peak level of 352,000 personnel at least into 2017 to provide stability as foreign troops withdraw from the country.

The announcement by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter came ahead of talks at the White House on Tuesday at which Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is expected to press his case for a slowing of the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

After a day of talks at the U.S. presidential retreat at Camp David, Carter, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan leaders were at pains to avoid getting ahead of the White House talks, at which Obama is expected to respond to Ghani's plea.

WNU Editor: The Afghan government/Army is going to need that money and more .... when an Army suffers losses this heavy .... Figures From U.S.-Led Coalition Show Heavy 2014 Losses for Afghan Army (NYT) .... it is in serious trouble..

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Opens US Visit With Speech At The Pentagon Honoring Sacrifices Made By American Soldiers

The Independent: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani opens US visit with speech honouring sacrifices made by American soldiers

Mr Ghani is intent on contrasting his style with that of his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, who became belligerent towards the US

Amidst signs that Washington is poised to adjust the pace of its disengagement from Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani opened an official visit to the United States today by expressing fulsome thanks for the sacrifices made by US soldiers in more than a decade of war in his country.

“What I want to state on behalf of the Afghan people is that each one of you also has left a memory in the heart of every Afghan that you’ve touched and encountered,” Mr Ghani told an audience of soldiers at the Pentagon. He is due to meet President Barack Obama tomorrow and to address Congress on Wednesday.

More News On Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Opening His US Visit With A Speech At The Pentagon Honoring Sacrifices Made By American Soldiers

Afghanistan President Ghani visits White House, Obama -- UPI
On Visit to U.S., Afghan President Thanks American Troops -- WSJ
Afghan leader thanks U.S. troops as Obama expected to slow pullout -- Reuters
Afghan President Thanks the Pentagon…and U.S. Taxpayers -- Time
Afghan president thanks U.S. troops -- Military Times
Afghan president Ghani credits US role during first Washington trip -- BBC
Afghan Leader Thanks U.S. Troops, Taxpayers for Support -- US Department of Defense
Afghan president thanks U.S. troops for 14 years of "sacrifice" -- FOX News/EFE
Afghan President Ghani Thanks U.S. At Pentagon -- Radio Free Europe
Afghan president thanks US for sacrifice and vows to 'put our house in order' -- The Guardian
Afghan president: ISIS targeting my country -- The Hill
For Ghani wooing Washington is the easy part of his job -- Deutsche Welle
Ghani: Afghan, US Partnership Is 'Foundational' -- VOA

U.S. Escalating 'Secret War' In Afghanistan

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hickman scans the area using binoculars while providing security from behind a partial stone wall during a patrol with U.S., Czech and Afghan soldiers through a village in Parwan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2015. Hickman is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Wheeler

New York Times: U.S. Is Escalating a Secretive War in Afghanistan

Data From Seized Computer Fuels a Surge in U.S. Raids on Al Qaeda

WASHINGTON — As an October chill fell on the mountain passes that separate the militant havens in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a small team of Afghan intelligence commandos and American Special Operations forces descended on a village where they believed a leader of Al Qaeda was hiding.

Update #1: US reportedly increases secret raids against Afghanistan insurgents -- FOX News
Update #2: Terrorist's Laptop Fuels Night Raids in Afghanistan -- The Diplomat
Update #3: British spies helped find Afghan trove of al Qaeda plans -- The Telegraph

WNU Editor: This is only adding fuel to the debate that U.S. forces may stay longer in Afghanistan than originally planned .... American troops poised to stay in Afghanistan in far greater numbers after official exit date to prevent resurgence of the Taliban (Daily Mail) ... even though the U.S. commander in Afghanistan is saying that everything is going OK .... Afghan Transition Trends ‘Positive,’ Campbell Says (US Department of Defense).

Top U.S. General In Afghanistan: 'We Could Extend The Mission'

Gen. John Campbell, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, expects a very violent summer season. (Photo: Army)

Michelle Tan, Army Times: 4-star in Afghanistan: We could extend mission

WNU Editor: It appears that he is not only laying the groundwork to extend the mission .... but to keep the same level of U.S. forces (or more) in Afghanistan. In the meantime .... the political crisis (and gridlock) in the Afghan government continues .... Afghan leader in cabinet setback as nominee quits, others in doubt (Reuters).

Top NATO Commander: Expect More US Casualties In Afghanistan

General Philip Breedlove in Afghanistan. Facebook

Stars and Stripes: Expect more US casualties in Afghanistan, top NATO commander says

WNU Editor: This war is far from over. This is a must see .... This new graphic shows the state of the U.S. war in Afghanistan (Washington Post).

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Wants To Re-Examine Deadline For The Coalition Troop Withdrawal

CBS 60 Minutes: Afghan president on 2016 troop withdrawal

WNU Editor: This is not a surprise .... he does not want U.S./NATO soldiers to leave right now .... especially since the Taliban have escalated their attacks, and the Afghan army appears to be more adept at launching artillery strikes on wedding parties than on the Taliban .... Afghan soldiers arrested after rockets kill wedding guests (Euronews).

As to what is my take on what the U.S. and its coalition partners should do .... 2014 was the lowest NATO troop death toll in a decade in Afghanistan .... I want to see that number down to zero ASAP, not to reverse it as the Afghan President wants .... after all .... if the Afghans do not want to fight and rebuild their country .... why should we. As to what other countries may think .... US pullout of Afghanistan leaves Pakistan on edge (Financial Times) .... that is their problem and not ours.

Top U.S. General Has Misgivings As The U.S. - NATO Afghanistan Mission Ends

Photo: Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson. ISAF

U.S. General Has Misgivings as Afghanistan Mission Ends -- New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — Shortly after the speeches concluded, the flags were folded and the band silenced, the last American general to lead combat operations in Afghanistan offered his candid assessment of the war.

“I don’t know if I’m pessimistic or optimistic,” said Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, the departing commander, considering the United States military’s reduced role next year. “The fact that we are in less places, the fact that there are less of us as a coalition, is obviously concerning.”

In an interview Monday in his office after the lowering of the flag that signaled the official end of the coalition’s war-fighting mission, General Anderson offered a nuanced take on the final year of America’s longest war.

Read more ....

My Comment: Even outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is stumped in explaining what may happen next in Afghanistan .... Hagel Stumped By Soldier Asking if Afghanistan Will Fall Apart Like Iraq (NRO).

More U.S. Troops To Remain In Afghanistan In 2015 Than Initially Planned

U.S. To Leave More Troops Than First Planned In Afghanistan - Sources -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The United States is preparing to increase the number of troops it keeps in Afghanistan in 2015 to fill a gap left in the NATO mission by other contributing nations, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

The final numbers are still being agreed, but there will be at least several hundred more than initially planned, one of the sources said.

"If they hadn't done that, the mission would have lost bases," the source said.

Under the U.S. commitment, described as a "bridging solution" until other nations fulfill their pledges later in the year or the troops are no longer needed, Washington may provide up to 1,000 extra troops.

Read more ....

Update: Obama confronts need for broader U.S. military role in Afghanistan -- L.A. Times

My Comment: This mission is changing everyday. Here is an easy prediction .... U.S. troops are not going to leave after 2015 .... in fact .... it would not surprise me if more U.S. troops are deployed in 2016, and the future of the Afghan mission will be left to the next President after the 2016 Presidential elections.

The Experts Are Split On What Should Be The Long-Term Role For The U.S. In Afghanistan

U.S. troops assess damage to an armored vehicle in a NATO-led international security force in Afghanistan's Jalalabad province, Aug. 24, 2014.

Pundits Split Over Long-Term US Role in Afghanistan -- Voice of America

While auditors rush to finish reviewing ballots in Afghanistan’s disputed June 14 presidential runoff election before incumbent Hamid Karzai leaves office, some American foreign policy experts are looking beyond the political standoff to a deadline that will end U.S. military involvement in the war-torn country.

That, they say, could further complicate Afghanistan’s security.

For years, Washington and Kabul could not come to terms on a bilateral security agreement, which would have determined the scope of what U.S. troops could do after 2014. So in May, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a unilateral plan: The United States would reduce its troop levels while continuing to train and equip Afghan national security forces for another two years.

Read more ....

My Comment: The pundits may be split .... but the U.S. role in Afghanistan has already been mapped out. A U.S. military presence numbering in the thousands. Military aid coupled with a heavy presence of numerous intelligence agencies. Economic aid. Political support. In short .... everything the same but with a smaller footprint.