U.S. Marines perform a security patrol in Southern Shorsurak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, throughout Operation New Dawn, June 20, 2010.
U.S. Marine Corps image
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is assessing a series of alternatives for the ultimate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
It would be a gigantic effort that might take place as quickly as the November governmental election, according to The New York Times.
President Donald Trump, who campaigned on eliminating the U.S. existence in Afghanistan, required to Twitter on Wednesday to state that America’s function in the war-torn nation has actually been minimized to a “police force” and not a “fighting force.”
“After 19 years, it is time for them to police their own Country. Bring our soldiers back home but closely watch what is going on and strike with a thunder like never before, if necessary!” composed Trump, who is dealing with a difficulty from previous vice president Joe Biden, the evident Democratic candidate.
The Pentagon would not offer specifics on the number of U.S. service members were presently serving in Afghanistan nor the alternatives under factor to consider by the White House.
“I think it’s been clear for some time that the U.S. has been looking at different options and how we are going to continue with our presence in Afghanistan,” Pentagon representative Jonathan Hoffman informed press reporters at the Pentagon. “I would not share with you what potential options that we would be discussing with the president though,” he included.
“The bottom line is, we have said for many, many months and years now that the future of Afghanistan is going to be best suited for peace when there is an agreement between the inter-Afghan parties,” Hoffman stated.
When asked by press reporters throughout a White House occasion, Trump stated Tuesday that the U.S. might return to Afghanistan if required.
“We can always go back if we have to. If we have to go back, we’ll go back, and we’ll go back raging,” he stated.
U.S. Marines and Georgian Army soldiers go to the extraction point throughout Operation Northern Lion II in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 3, 2013.
U.S. Marine Corps image
Earlier this year, the United States brokered a peace handle the Taliban that would introduce an irreversible cease-fire and minimize the U.S. armed force’s footprint from roughly 13,000 to 8,600 by mid-July.
The cumulative wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria have actually cost U.S. taxpayers more than $1.57 trillion given that Sept. 11, 2001, according to a Defense Department report.
The existing U.S. military operations, designated Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan, Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria and Iraq, and Operation Noble Eagle, have actually represented $266 billion of that amount.
Of the 3 existing operations, Freedom’s Sentinel takes the lion’s share of expenses at $193 billion.
