Caregivers and advocates, especially my former colleague, senator Elizabeth Dole, who is an extraordinary advocate for our military caregivers. Our military families, heroes in plain clothing, are serving in americas cities and communities every single day. The effects of military Service Often do not end with a tour of duty. For many veterans and their families, the journey sometimes extends for a lifetime. For some with bows both visible and invisible scars, the transition home is not easy. Recovery, too, can take decades. Along the way, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and other family members and friends, step in to serve. Today we will focus on those who care for americas veterans. In the United States, there are 5. 5 million military caregivers. These family members and loved ones provide care on a constant and routine basis to our veterans. They are often vital in assisting veterans to make the transition all the way home. Military caregivers improve recovery, rehabilitation,
Doneford testifying on a military strategy on south asia that includes india pack tan and afghanistan. This hearing is just getting underway. These fundamental issues do need to be discussed openly for the American People and for those who have sacrificed over the last 16 years. Thats the reason we are here today. Mr. Smith. Thank you mr. Chairman. And i think the chairman raised all the questions that need to be raised. This is offense a revery difficult part of the world. We clearly have National Security interests in how afghanistan is governed and pakistan as well. Going back to 2001 when the then Afghanistan Government led by the taliban allowed al qaeda to have safe haven to plot and plan terrorist attacks against the u. S. , including 9 11. Making sure we dont return to toes days is clearly in our National Security interests. What is not as clear is how we do that and what the cost is of our current effort. Afghanistan is a very difficult place to govern. I think one of the thin
General dunford thanks on behalf of those military Service Members and veterans for your dedication and your persistence on behalf of victory with the global war on terrorism. And what we would like each of you to address our rules of engagement during the Previous Administration to introduce that resolution with those existing rules of engagement in the effort in that complex environment glutted the status of the new rules of engagement . Those old rules included rules of engagement and operating principles including the requirement for proximity of the enemy to be engaged. President trump has told me i have the authority to change that so that opens the enemy were ever found it to the nato air support. So first we have had a reduction in the number of deaths as a result of the coalition and operations. We will take every human possible step but the rules themselves permit being gauged forces to bring air support by extending which units are advised that mean they had a convoluted way
President trumps new military strategy in afghanistan. This House Armed Services committee is just two hours. One of the primary concerns i would like each of you to address are the rules of engagement in afghanistan. During the previous administration, i introduced a resolution calling to the revision under operation resident support in afghanistan in an effort to succeed where combatants face. What are the standard rules of engagement for efforts in afghanistan . Includedhe old rules both rules of engagement and operating principles, including a requirement for proximity of the enemy to be engaged by our air forces. President trump has told me that i have the authority to change that, so i removed proximity and opens the itself enemy whenever they are found to nato air support under the nato hold plant. The first thing is, we have unleashed that. We have had a reduction in the number of deaths by innocent people has a result of coalition operations, not taliban. My point is, we will
Defense secretary james mattis and general joseph doneford were on capitol hill this week testifying on President Trumps new military strategy in afghanistan and discussed the need to remove terrorist safe havens in other parts of the globe. It ran three hours. Committee will come to order. Committee welcomes secretary of defense and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff today for a hearing on afghanistan and south asia. The secretary had had previously indicated he would be back to discuss the approach to the region once it is decided and thats the topic for today. I understand there are many issues facing the department and this committee but in the interest of time and focus i want to encourage members to confine their questions to todays subject. The United States officially launched Operation Enduring freedom on october 7th, 2001, just about exactly 16 years ago. Approximately 2,400 American Service members have lost their lives in the conflict. Another 20,000 or so have been