Nicholson, Jr. told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on January 28 that “there will always be some level of violence in Afghanistan”.
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Lt. Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., who led the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg from 2012 to 2014, will take over, according to the Department of Defense earlier this week.
The security situation prompted President Barack Obama to announce in October that the United States would maintain a force of about 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through most of 2016 instead of drawing down to an embassy-based presence by 2017. He said they do have some shortcomings “that simply take years and years to develop” – such as such as intelligence collection and air support. “We’re looking at an adequate level of security to prevent the re-emergence of transnational terrorist threats”. His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Carter said Campbell has not recommended to him any increase in US troop levels.
The hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee began with the panel’s chairman, Sen.
He also highlighted the potential for breaking from the current restrictions on US forces in Afghanistan, now limited to training, advising and assisting the Afghans, and conducting counterterrorism operations against a select group of extremist groups that does not include the Taliban, or the Haqqani network, both of which enjoy safe havens in the tribal regions of Pakistan. “We do need to think about an enduring commitment to Afghanistan”.
Nicholson would succeed Gen. John F. Campbell, who is expected to retire.
Critical of the Af-Pak policy of the Obama Administration, McCain also demanded an immediately halt to U.S. troop withdrawals and eliminate any target date for withdrawal. “By now, we should have learned from the precipitous withdrawal from Iraq and the disaster that ensued that wars do not end because politicians say so”, McCain charged.
“I agree with your assessment”, Nicholson conceded, adding that the Taliban had gone on the offensive more intensely than military commanders had anticipated. Gen. John Nicholson, served as undersecretary for memorial affairs in the Veterans Affairs Department.
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Nicholson has served in multiple capacities including chief of staff of operations for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US Forces – Afghanistan, director of the Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell for the Joint Staff, and deputy commander – Stability of ISAF Regional Command South.
