Additional Troops in Afghanistan Will Cost about $1bn a Year

The additional troops President Donald Trump has ordered to Afghanistan will cost over one billion dollars a year, U.S. military leaders told lawmakers. Senator John McCain previously criticized Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford for withholding key details of the new strategy for winning in Afghanistan. The senator said that it was bizarre that Mattis and Dunford didn’t submit written testimony before the beginning of the hearing, which is practice for administration witnesses testifying before committees.

“We want to be your partners. But this committee will not be a rubber stamp for any policy or president. We must be well-informed. We must be convinced of the merits of the administration’s actions. And unfortunately, we still have far more questions than answers about this new strategy,” McCain said.

Mattis and Dunford were the first ones that appeared in front of the Senate Panel and in front of the House Armed Services Committee. They tried to assure the lawmakers that the plan for larger presence in Afghanistan will yield good results. The members weren’t very sure about that.

According to Mattis, for the first time in the war, the Afghan military and police are fully engaged in combat operations. He also said that they are getting bolder in combat because they know U.S. and NATO forces are using air-power to strike the Taliban and other militants on “the high ground.” But Dunford thinks that the U.S. are not at a point where they can brig a successful political solution to the war in Afghanistan.

Trump in August announced that American troops would fight to win by attacking enemies, crushing Al-Qaeda, and preventing terrorist attacks against Americans. But, as AP reports, Trump’s description of a win in Afghanistan notably did not include defeating the Taliban. He indicated that after an effective military effort it eventually may be possible to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan that includes elements of the Taliban.

The newest plans include boosting troop numbers by about 3,500, expanding the training of the Afghan military and strengthening the U.S. counter-terrorism operations. Dunford blamed Pakistan’s intelligence service that it is connected to terrorist groups. According to Trump, Pakistan is harboring Taliban leaders ad other militants that are battling U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but Islamabad denied the country provides support for the Taliban.