The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Military News > Air Force

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-26-2020, 07:22 AM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is online now
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,784
Arrow U.S. forces kill 5 Taliban attacking Afghan security troops says USFOR-A

U.S. forces kill 5 Taliban attacking Afghan security troops says USFOR-A
By: Howard Altman and Meghann Myers - Military Times News - 10-26-20
Re: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/y...-says-usfor-a/

Photo link: https://www.armytimes.com/resizer/A8...4A3MCO7LIE.jpg

A targeted strike by U.S. forces in Afghanistan Sunday night killed five Taliban fighters attacking Afghan security forces, a spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan announced via a tweet early Monday morning.

“USFOR-A conducted a targeted strike in Nerkh, Wardak last night- in defense of the ANDSF and in accordance with the U.S.-TB Agreement- killing 5 Taliban fighters,” tweeted Army Col. Sonny Leggett. “We reject the allegations of violating the agreement and of killing innocent Afghans.”

The strike comes less than a week after Army Gen. Austin “Scott” Miller, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, said U.S. forces in Afghanistan are doing their best to keep to an agreement to reduce violence, including opting not to go on the offensive in some cases.

“We’ve shown a great deal of restraint because we’re trying to make this peace process work,” Miller told the BBC in a segment that aired Oct. 21. “At the same time, we’ll defend our forces.”

Technically, the U.S. and Taliban agreed earlier this year to stop specifically targeting each other, and no U.S. troops have been killed in Taliban attacks since February.

What goes on between the Taliban and Afghan security forces is another matter, and critics have pointed out that as the U.S. reduces its troop presence in the country ― and the president proclaims that everyone could be home by Christmas ― Afghanistan remains as unstable as ever.

Last year, the Trump administration set about 8,000 troops as its benchmark to remain in Afghanistan after a peace deal, but that number wound down to about 4,000 this year.

“We’re down to 4,000 troops in Afghanistan,” President Donald Trump said Oct. 8 in an interview with Fox Business Channel. “I’ll have them home by the end of the year. They’re coming home, you know, as we speak. Nineteen years is enough. They’re acting as policemen, OK? They’re not acting as troops.”

A best-case scenario timeline, per the peace talks in Qatar, would have had troops out of the country later in spring 2021.

Despite Trump’s assertions, every single U.S. military leader has stressed that a full withdrawal from the country is based on conditions, and one of those is a long-term reduction in violence from the Taliban.

“If the violence goes up, it’s going to make it very, very difficult to come to any solution in Doha, which is exactly what this country needs,” Miller said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal note: I think Trump is not playing with a full deck and that US troops will have to stay there until NATO troops can come in and relieve them. But with Trump's beef with NATO there's no way we can just pull up stakes and leave. If Peace is ever going to happen in this area - it has to happen with the US still standing watch and NATO Peace Keeper's coming in to maintain security in the area. Otherwise to just pull out 100% leaves the civilians open to persecution and slaughter - by the Taliban.

Should this happen - the US will look bad for deserting them cold turkey. Yes - I wish all our Troop's could come home for the holidays - but as I recall myself not making it home for many holidays during VN. The US military must stand for human rights or we loose our creditability to both the natives and the world. We would then loose confidence with any future countries & allies. If we are not going to follow through with our original intentions - don't go in at all. The US must stand for human rights or watch our position in this world diminish - and then carry a stain of retreating before the issues were resolved.

Another issue "don't tell - or advertise" - or make promises - and then run away leaving the job incomplete. NATO normally backs us up once we've stabilized the area - but our current relations with NATO is somewhat broken - to some degree - and they are not receptive to US callings.

Boats
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:57 PM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.