US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter indicated the United States would maintain extra troops in Afghanistan beyond the end of next year. “It’s a very different playbook, and again, I wish we didn’t have to do that” to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said.
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The president repeated the claim Thursday as he announced 5,500 USA troops would remain in Afghanistan after 2016.
Cheryl Pellerin writes Carter told audience at the Association of the U.S. Army conference Wednesday that DoD and other federal agencies have experienced the impact of sequestration.
He also said he would include financial support for Afghan troops in his fiscal 2017 budget request, making it clear that he does not see the USA commitment to the country ending in the near future. “However, there continues to be a terror threat emanating from Afghanistan”, Earnest said.
U.S. Soldiers with Forward Support Company, 65th Engineer Battalion conduct a presence patrol March 26, 2014, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Carter said that the Army would have a central role in a revamped strategy to contain Russian Federation.
Through NATO’s Resolute Support mission, the USA is working closely with the Afghan national defence and security forces and Afghan security ministries to ensure that they are prepared for their critical mission of protecting the Afghan people and setting the conditions for stability in this vital region, he said.
“It’s why we’ve moved Stryker units and brigade-sized elements from the 2nd Cavalry through 1,800 kilometers of Eastern Europe alongside our allies from Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary”, he said.
“Various new realities associated with new times, that’s why the president considered then – is still considering – making adjustments to a plan that is two-and-a-half years old”, Carter said at the final day of the Association of the United States Army’s annual convention.
“We do look at it as enough”.
“This is a fundamental strategic mistake (by Putin), one that will enflame and prolong the Syrian civil war”.
On Tuesday, Putin mocked the US attempts to “de-conflict” on Syria.
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He added, “Our continued efforts to stabilize Afghanistan will benefit the entire region and in turn offer greater security for the US homeland and Americans overseas and at home”. “It seems to me that a few of our partners have mush for brains”.
