The u.s. while the u.s. is supposed to be playing a backup and training role we have to remember the trump administration is doubling down on this 16-year long war bringing troop levels back up to 14,000. recently we learned that special forces were involved in something like 2500 operations in just six months and the air force is staging its heaviest air strikes since the height of that war. one final note, rick, a little bit ironic, the gathering targeted by isis today was marking the anniversary in 1979 of soviet troops coming into afghanistan. another reminder of the difficulties foreign forces say when they try to tame that country. rick: no doubt. greg, thank you. julie: president trump continuing his holiday vacation at his mar-a-lago estate in florida. he met with first responders
Very dangerous mix for the u.s. and its allies there, jon. jon: so what has been the u.s. s response? we understand the white house, president trump has been apprised of this event. we heard from the u.s. embassy. they called the attack horrific. they pledge the continuing support of the united states. while the united states is there supposedly in a backup role, in a training role, the trump administration is in fact doubling down on afghanistan, raising its troop levels to something like 14,000. special forces have been in involved in about 2,500 operations, many against isis. a lot of air strikes, this times as many this year as last. again, isis the target. isis, taliban for a dangerous mix. it s a 16-year war, john. back to you. greg palkot live from london. thank you. we talked about it a minute ago.
Mattis will have command over the number of troops deployed but must keep president trump fully informed. they are considering sending 3,000 to 5,000 more troops to afghanistan in advisory and training role. 48 minutes past the hour. end of an era for yahoo!. the internet icon no longer an independent company. marie anesthesia meyer walking a way with a hefty package. we ll tell you next.
They somehow hang on. i would say those people represents more of a trumpian world view, the national security foreign policy establishment has sort of failed and led america into a series of blunders, they are response for the iraq war and cheered on libya which turned out to be a disaster. they think the experts that everyone on the tv shows and council on foreign relations thinks so highly of are overrated and don t have great judgment. it s possible that it s that kind of person who still hanging on the administration who seems to be gunning for hr mcmaster. it s not clear whether there are genuine tensions with tprds. i would as a closing note add o the afghanistan stuff, this is mcmaster s war seems silly to me, talking about sending more troops to afghanistan. barack obama sent 30,000 and this 5,000 would be primarily a training role and obama s were in a combat role. this idea reflects centrist foreign policy thinking.
At least being assembled. clearly i think the two main thrusts of this press conference were to say that obviously the relationship with canada is important and that the driving force behind that is also trade. and also terror. it was interesting to hear both prime minister trudeau and president trump really emphasizing canada and the u.s. as fighting terrorism tofgt you heard trudeau repeatedly make allusions to the fact that the fact that canada and the u.s. have fought alongside in korea and afghanistan. canada is part of the coalition against isis. what did not come up is as of february 22nd, canada will no longer be participating in bombing raids as part of this coalition. it will be taking on more humanitarian aid and training role. clearly trying to emphasize areas of commonality with trade and terror being the two primary ones. clarissa stand by. gloria, it s interesting that the big news here in washington, the fate of the president s