U.S. Secretary Of Defense Mattis Warns Against U.S. Pullout From Afghanistan

US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis (R) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford (L) on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, October 3, 2017 © Alex Wong / AFP

RFE: Mattis Warns Against U.S. Pullout From Afghanistan, Says Afghan Forces Fully Engaged

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned that an American withdrawal from Afghanistan would be "to our ultimate peril," as he briefed Congress on plans to increase American troop levels in the war-torn country.

"Based on intelligence community analysis and my own evaluation, I am convinced we would absent ourselves from this region at our peril," Mattis said on October 3 during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The administration of President Donald Trump recently unveiled a strategy to try to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan after nearly 16 years of war.

Mattis said that more than 3,000 additional U.S. troops are being sent to Afghanistan to reinforce the 11,000 U.S. troops already stationed in the country.

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WNU Editor:

Speaking of Afghanistan (and not the news that I like to post) .... Senate Foreign Relations chairman: US troops likely in Afghanistan for another decade (Military Times).

More News On U.S. Secretary Of Defense Mattis' Testimony On Afghanistan

Mattis says Afghan forces fully engaged for first time -- Chicago Tribune/AP
Afghanistan pull-out would be 'to our ultimate peril': James Mattis -- Hindustan Times
Mattis' Warning About Arming The Taliban Wasn't Meant For Russia And Iran -- Task & Purpose
Senators grill Mattis, Dunford on war strategy in Afghanistan -- Stars and Stripes
US prepared to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely – Pentagon chiefs -- RT
Mattis surprises Iran, explains Trump's instructions on North Korea -- Jerusalem Online
US Troops in Afghanistan to Operate Closer to Front Lines in Fight Against Taliban -- Washington Free Beacon
Pentagon says Trump's Afghan troop boost to cost $1 billion -- The Daily Star
Additional 3K US Troops in Afghanistan Will Be on 'Combat Duty' -- Military.com