Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain said on Thursday that the US needs to model its troop stay in Afghanistan on the long commitment the nation made to South Korea.
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But the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, and there are a number of capabilities the Afghan forces still need to develop, Nicholson said.
Army Lt. Gen. John W. “Mick” Nicholson Jr. has spent more time focusing on the almost 15-year-old conflict in Afghanistan than any other USA military general.
“He understands the importance and complexity of our mission in Afghanistan”, Cook said, having served previously as chief of staff of operations for the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, and U.S. Forces Afghanistan.
Earnest said the Obama administration still expects to reduce troop levels to about 5,500, down from the current 9,800, by the end of this year. Nicholson praised Afghan troops as “born fighters”, but said building aspects of the Afghan military is slow work, especially its air force and casualty evacuation capabilities.
Carter thanked Campbell for his extraordinary leadership and dedication in his dual role as commander of United States Forces – Afghanistan, and as commander of the NATO Resolute Support mission.
“Because of that, we did not make the advances we projected we thought we would make”, he said.
The Pentagon’s nominee to lead operations in Afghanistan claimed Thursday that less USA troops in Afghanistan could lead to a higher risk for another major terrorist attack on the U.S.
Senators on the committee indicated they were pleased with Nicholson’s position on troop levels. Nicholson said he was alarmed by the rise of the Islamic State in Nangarhar province and of al Qaeda’s growing presence in Kandahar, describing them as “clear attempts by transnational terrorist organizations to establish sanctuary inside Afghanistan”.
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. “Nor will any politician be able to schedule an end to the threat of radical Islamist terrorism emanating from Afghanistan or the region more broadly”. Addressing the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Nicholson stated that security situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating.
Nicholson, a 1982 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a career infantry officer, is now commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, headquartered at Izmir, Turkey.
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Nicholson will be nominated for a fourth star, Cook said.
