Don’t Repeat the Mistakes of Iraq: U.S. Should Continue Training Mission in Afghanistan
Don’t Repeat the Mistakes of Iraq: U.S. Should Continue Training Mission in Afghanistan by Luke Coffey – The Heritage Foundation Report
Summary
There have been recent reports that the U.S. might pull out around 7,000 U.S. troops—half of the total—from Afghanistan. A capable Afghanistan National Defense and Security Force (ANDSF) and a genuine political settlement with the Taliban, led by the Afghans, is the country’s best ticket to rise from poverty, and America’s best hope for regional stability and security. It is in America’s interest to continue the training, advising, and assisting mission for the ANDSF. Now is not the time to abandon the Afghans and repeat the mistakes of the Obama Administration when it abruptly removed all trainers from Iraq in 2011, paving the way for the invasion by the Islamic State.
Key Takeaways
1. Today there is a relatively small contingent of about 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan—the vast majority of whom are training and mentoring the ANDSF.
2. A capable ANDSF and a genuine political settlement led by the Afghans are the country’s best hope for security, and America’s best hope for regional stability.
3. Now is not the time to abandon the Afghans and repeat the mistakes of the Obama Administration when it abruptly removed all trainers from Iraq in 2011.
