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
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
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 wounded. As this administration formulates its policies, the American People and members of congress have basic questions such as does American National security still warrant our military presence in afghanistan . Do we have a strategy to succeed or one to avoid failure . How is this administrations approach different from previous approaches . And can we ever be successful in the face of afghan corruption and af
Post. He recently traveled to Northern Syria and iraq with the command of the u. S. Central command, i am pleased to have him on the program. Welcome. David thank you. Charlie tell me about the trip and what you saw. This, as you suggested, the first time a centcom commander has done this in six years. David this is a very unusual opportunity for me and three other reporters to travel with the general, the commander of centcom, in that role as overall supervision of the war in syria and iraq against isis. This is the First Time Since i think 2010, roughly, that a centcom commander has taken press with him. Under general austin, a predecessor, that was out. They did not want the press tagging along. He decided the American Public needs to know more about the wars, if people are going to understand and support them, so he decided to take us a long, not just to baghdad or kurdistan, but into syria. We were not allowed to disclose where we were going. We were not allowed to file anything u
Syria and iraq with the command of the u. S. Central command, i am pleased to have him on the program. Welcome. David thank you. Charlie tell me about the trip and what you saw. This, as you suggested, the first time a centcom commander has done this in six years. This is a very unusual opportunity for me and other reporters to travel with the general, the commander of centcom, in that role as overall of the war in syria and iraq against isis. This is the First Time Since i think 2010, roughly, that a centcom commander has taken press with him. Under general austin, a predecessor, that was out. They did not want the press tagging along. He decided the American Public needs to know more about the wars, if people are going to understand and support them, so he decided to take a salon, not just take us along, not just to baghdad or kurdistan, but into syria. We were not allowed to disclose going. E were we were not allowed to file anything until we had gotten out of the country, and we we