The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan testified before Congress Tuesday, and warned that President Obama’s planned draw-down of U.S. troops could be a disaster waiting to happen.
Should Obama continue to press his political agenda on the battlefield, Afghan forces could even fracture in the face of renewed Taliban attacks.
Gen. John Campbell went before Congress to push that Obama revise his plan and keep more than 1,000 U.S. troops in the country beyond 2016. His appearance came just days after a deadly U.S. airstrike mistakenly struck a hospital during fierce fighting in the north.
Campbell told Congress that conditions on the ground have changed since Obama announced his plan in 2014 to cut the current U.S. force of 9,800 to an embassy-based security contingent of about 1,000 in Kabul post-2016.
Campbell said that Afghanistan remains engaged in a violent battle against the Taliban, military operations in Pakistan have pushed fighters, including those linked to al-Qaida, into eastern and northern Afghanistan and the emergence of Islamic State fighters has further complicated the conflict.
Campbell, the top commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, said that dropping to 1,000 troops would leave the United States with limited ability to train and assist the Afghan forces and even less capacity to conduct counter-terrorism operations. He said the different options he has provided to his superiors are for troop levels beyond a normal embassy presence of about 1,000.
When Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, asked Campbell if he thought the president should revise his troop withdrawal plan, Campbell replied: “I will stomp my foot. Yes, sir.”
In his opening remarks to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Campbell offered details about the airstrike on a medical clinic that Doctors Without Borders ran in Kunduz.
The airstrike occurred as Afghan forces were retaking Kunduz from the Taliban. The insurgents staged a surprise attack from multiple sides of the city and held it for three days before Afghan security forces recaptured it with help from the U.S.-led coalition.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Well, whatta ya know? Finally, a military man with stones! My guess is he will be removed from his post for some phony reason. With this administration, Eisenhower, Patton and Marshall would have been removed for instigating victory during WW 2. But…..a Chicago street corner activist is the high generalissimo In charge and we all realize he knows best.
Unfortunetly it won’t be Obaloney who will be “DEAD” wrong. It will once again be our brave soldiers who are stuck in a hell hole with little help and and no backing from this pitiful administration.
I would rather wait til he retires and then listen to his comments. Afghanistan did not need US assistance to drive out Russian troops. The leadership of Afghanistan should retrieve all its valuables scarfed off by the US, and similarly drive USForces out of Afghanistan. Perhaps Afghanistan should also join Iran and Russia to drive the CIA/MOSSAD mercenaries, and ISIS, out of Syria.
Obama has had almost 8 years of doing his very best to destroy this country (USA). From the beginning this and that was his goal. what we (our country men) need to do is take over the capitol with Obama and his cronies, impeach him and imprison him , for the destruction of America, and Israel. Anyone with half a brain can see what Obama has been doing. Those under him are not guiltless !! STOP Obama NOW, don’t wait till election or the destruction of The United States of America.. I cannot understand how stupid you people in authority are, and have become ignorant and blinded to Obama’s treachery and disreguard and laws ignored !!! WAKE UP !!! DO SOMETHING… I am your future deadly powerful ruler, that will set all of you straight, or eliminate all of you.
I second that.
Now how is it this General has the teststosterom to say things like this when all the other sheep are staying in the pasture!( Kiss his star goodbye) ! Yes,it’s going to be interesting to see what our flag burning chief of the extended arm of Isis is going to pull next ! Here we have this game starting all over again! There are a number of us that have seen what our Illustrious Potentate is up to and we have watched the Congress and senate sit by and allow this ! Why are they receiving big retirements for doing not a lot?
Great, just enough men to get into trouble but not enough to achieve anything. I pity the poor saps that will be put into this invidious position. I knew Obama and his Party were full of hot air when I heard their slogan, “yes we can” Yes we can, what?. I also deplore his speech pattern where he speaks in staccato phrases Until the US elects some one with sense and who wants to do the right thing rather than win the next election the US is doomed to decline.
William! You hit the nail on the head. There isn’t anyone in the Republican Party with Honesty or Moral Fiber to take the fight to the Democratic Party because they can’t offer anything better then what the democrats are offering . Both parties have no real interest in America, except for lining there own pockets. Before you jump off your perch,I have a question for you William! If either party were any good and both parties have had there turn at the helm. Why is America in the state that she is in? Is it the peoples Fault or the politicians? Neither party has any real solutions. Both Parties need to be put on the burn pile.
Zoltar, you are half right! Lets look at who it is that took a jr.flip with no money,no experience to speak of and shoved it right down our throats? Insurance? A guy by the name of George? Maybe the stupidity of the voters? I was all for change too,but I knew the bobblehead in office now was not the answer! I’m still appalled that this country allowed a flag burning jerk and his dipstick wench into our White House.I say lets get the liberal flight plan out of our schools and our households and do it quick. Put god back where he was in the first place and press on. The communist plot of divide and conquer is working rather well!