President Trump will be giving his first prime-time address and major foreign policy speech to the nation at 9 p.m. on Monday to detail his Administration’s U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.
With immense pressure on him from all sides, he is expected to reluctantly approve a small number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan when he lays out his strategy on how to deal with America’s longest foreign war.
Immediately after taking office, Trump announced a strategic review of the current strategy and privately questioned his generals whether sending more troops is wise.
President is expected to announce a moderate surge of about 4,000 troops in Afghanistan during his first prime time address to the nation on Monday, 21 August 2017. Pictured above” Afghan soldiers trained by U.S. Forces on patrol in Achin district, Afghanistan. Credit: EPA/Ghulamullah Habibi
“We’re not winning,” he told advisers at a meeting in July, questioning whether Gen. John Nicholson leading the task in Afghanistan should be fired.
Preside Trump has long been a vocal critic of the U.S. war in Afghanistan which has cost the nation over $700 billion to date and increasing with no solution in sight. He has remained skeptical of how the war which was launched by President George W. Bush in October 2001 after the 9/11 attacks is being fought.
Current U.S. troop numbers are about 8,400 and there is expectation by Neo-Cons who drafted the war to see a surge, which Trump has always been opposed. His Defense Secretary James Mattis, on the other hand, favours a U.S. presence to protect against a continuing threat from the Taliban and Islamist militants.
According to an Administration official, Trump may or may not give an actual number on Monday for the expected troop increase. Earlier this year, President Trump gave Gen. Mattis the authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan.
A Reuters original report.
Further editing by Manyika Review.
