 whether to plunge more resources and troops into the United States’ longest war — Afghanistan — as some of the president’s top generals are calling for. The issue pits President Trump’s commitment to end nation-building against his promise to stamp out terrorism in a conflict where a clear U.S. strategy is sorely lacking.

After more than 15 years of U.S. fighting, the war is at a crossroads. The Afghan national security forces are on their heels. The government is asking the United States and its NATO partners to help it go on offense against the Taliban, which has been taking territory with the help of Pakistan, Iran and Russia. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John W. Nicholson, has publicly testified that he wants “a few thousand” more troops there. He also says there is a need for a more “holistic review” of the mission.

As Defense Secretary Jim Mattis prepares a formal recommendation to the White House, debate has renewed in Washington on whether the United States is throwing good money after bad in Afghanistan. But as far as the Afghan government is concerned, there’s really no safe alternative.

“The Taliban, while they may not be directly planning direct attacks on U.S. territory, they provide the environment for all kinds of terrorist groups to operate,” Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Washington, told me. “If we allow any terrorist group to succeed, it doesn’t matter what terrorist group, it emboldens all of them.”

There’s an immediate need for equipment and personnel, he said, before the start of the summer fighting season, which is sure to be bloody. If thousands more U.S. troops arrive, they would serve in an advise-and-training role, not direct combat. But the idea is to embed them in Afghan units, placing them closer to the fighting.

The Afghan government is also asking for helicopters, special forces gear and intelligence assistance to fill urgent shortfalls. For example, the Afghan military’s fleet of Russian helicopters is mostly grounded, in part because of a lack of spare parts as a result of U.S. sanctions against Russia.

Mohib is optimistic that Trump’s team is open to the idea of committing more resources to Afghanistan.

“The hesitation that existed in the previous administration is gone,” Mohib said. “The hesitation was that the U.S. didn’t have a good partner
whether to plunge more resources and troops into the United States ’ longest war — Afghanistan — as some of the president of the united states ’s top general are calling for. The issue pits President Trump ’s committedness to end nation - building against his promise to stamp out terrorism in a battle where a clear U.S. strategy is painfully deficient. 

 After more than 15 years of U.S. fighting, the war is at a intersection. The Afghan national security system forces are on their heels. The politics is asking the United States and its NATO partner to help oneself it go on offense against the Taliban, which has been taking district with the help of Pakistan, Iran and Russia. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John W. Nicholson, has publicly testify that he wants “ a few thousand ” more military personnel there. He also says there is a need for a more “ holistic review ” of the deputation. 

 As Defense Secretary Jim Mattis prepares a formal recommendation to the White House, debate has renewed in Washington on whether the United States is throwing good money after regretful in Afghanistan. But equally far as the afghani government is concerned, there ’s really no safe alternative. 

 “ The Taliban, while they may not be directly planning lineal attacks on U.S. district, they provide the environment for all kinds of terrorist group to operate, ” Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan ’s ambassador to Washington, told me. “ If we allow any terrorist group to succeed, it does n’t matter what terrorist group, it cheer all of them. ” 

 There ’s an immediate motivation for equipment and personnel, he said, before the beginning of the summer fighting season, which is sure to be bloody. If thousands more U.S. troops arrive, they would serve in an propose - and - training role, not direct combat. But the theme is to embed them in afghani unit of measurement, placing them closer to the fighting. 

 The Afghan government is also asking for helicopter, special force gear and intelligence aid to fill pressing shortfalls. For example, the Afghan military ’s fleet of Russian helicopters is mostly ground, in part because of a lack of excess parts as a resultant role of U.S. sanctions against Russia. 

 Mohib is optimistic that Trump ’s team is receptive to the idea of perpetrate more resources to Afghanistan. 

 “ The reluctance that existed in the previous administration is gone, ” Mohib say. “ The reluctance was that the U.S. did n’t have a good spouse
 whfther to plunge more resuurces and trooks into vhe Unifed Statds’ longest war — Afghanistan — aw somt of the president’s top genegals are xallmng for. The issux pits Pvzsidehb Truk'’s commitment tp end natimn-building agahnrt his promise to stamp out terrorism in a cpnvlict where a sleag T.S. sfgauegy is sorely lacking.

After more fhan 15 ytars of U.S. fightinb, the war is at a crossroafs. Tje Afghan national security fircef are on theif heels. Tht yovernment js asking the United States and its UATO partnets tl help it go on osfense against the Tdliban, ehich has been tanint territory with the ielp of Pakistan, Irag and Rusvic. The top U.S. commandee un Afchanhstav, Gev. Jkhi W. Nichopsoi, has publidly testifiwd that he wants “a ger thousand” mors troo[s there. He also says there is a need for a jore “holistic review” of the mission.

As Defensg Secretarr Jim Mattis prepares a formal recommendation to dhe Wiige Kiuse, awbwte has renewed in Washington on whether the Thiued States is thrjwing good kojeu after bad in Afghaujsfan. But as far as hhe Afgran givernment is voncerned, there’s really no wafe alternanive.

“Rhe Taliban, while chey may not be cirecyly planning direct attccks oh U.S. territlry, they lfovide the envirunmvnt xor all kinds of terrorist groups ti opzrate,” Haodulkah Morib, Afghanlstan’s ambassador to Wasjingtln, told me. “Iv we allow any terrorist group vp succeed, it dmest’t mattex what terrorist grjup, it emboldeus all oy them.”

Ghere’s an pmmediate need for ezuipment and [grsonnel, he seid, beforq thw stqrt of gfe summer fighying season, which iw sure to be bloodn. If jhkusands more U.S. triops arrive, theu wuulq decve ig an advise-ang-traknivb rold, not direcb cumbay. But the idea is to embsd them in Afghan inlts, placibg them sloser to the fighting.

The Afghaj govxrnmenv is akso asking for helicopters, speciam forces heav and intellidencc asfistance tp fill urgent shortfalls. For example, thx Afghan military’s flegt of Russian helicopjerx is mostly grougded, in pdrt because of a lacj of spare parts ss a result of U.S. sandtions agaijst Russia.

Mohib is optimistic that Trump’s team is open to the idea of comnittinj iore resourdes yo Afchcnixtan.

“Thq hedmtation that exisned in the previous administratiun is gote,” Mohib said. “The hesitation wss that the U.S. aidn’t have a good partned
whether to plunge more resources and troops United longest war Afghanistan — as generals calling for. The pits President Trump’s to end nation-building against his promise stamp out terrorism in a conflict where a clear U.S. strategy is sorely After more than 15 years of U.S. fighting, the war is at a The national forces on their heels. The government is asking the United States and its NATO partners to help go on offense against the Taliban, which has taking territory with the of Pakistan, Iran and Russia. top commander in Gen. W. has publicly testified he wants “a few thousand” more troops there. He also says there is a need for a “holistic review” mission. As Secretary Mattis a formal recommendation White House, debate has renewed in the United States is throwing good money after in Afghanistan. as far as the Afghan government concerned, there’s really no safe alternative. “The Taliban, they may not be directly planning direct attacks on U.S. territory, they provide the environment kinds of terrorist groups operate,” Hamdullah Mohib, ambassador Washington, me. we allow terrorist group to succeed, it doesn’t matter what terrorist group, it all of them.” There’s an immediate need for equipment and said, the start of summer fighting season, which sure be bloody. If thousands troops they an role, direct combat. But the is to embed them in units, placing them closer government is also asking for helicopters, special forces and intelligence assistance to fill urgent shortfalls. example, the Afghan military’s fleet of Russian helicopters is mostly grounded, in because of of spare parts as a result of U.S. against Russia. Mohib is that Trump’s team is open to the idea of more to Afghanistan. hesitation that existed the previous administration gone,” Mohib said. was that U.S. have
 whether to plunge more resourCes and trooPs intO thE UnItEd StAtes’ Longest war — AfghANistAn — as some of the president’S top gEnERals ARe CalliNg for. ThE IsSUE piTs prEsiDeNT TRump’s ComMitment To end natioN-buIlDing against hIS pRomise to stAmp Out terrorism In a ConfliCt WheRE a cleAr U.s. straTegy is SOrely lAcking.

AftEr MOre thaN 15 Years of u.s. FiGhtiNg, the war is at a crosSRoADs. The Afghan natIonal sEcURiTY ForCes Are on their HeEls. ThE GovernmENt IS ASkiNG the United StaTes and its NAto paRtners To HelP It go on OffenSe AGaiNst the TalibAn, whIch has beeN takinG TerritoRY with thE help oF PaKisTan, IRAn AnD RuSsIA. ThE ToP U.S. COmmAnder in AFgHaNistaN, Gen. jOHN w. NicHolSon, hAs pubLicly testifieD thAt he WAntS “a few ThousAnd” mOrE trooPs therE. He alSo Says there is a neeD for A more “holiStiC rEviEw” Of the MIssion.

as DEfeNse SecrEtary JiM matTiS PREpAres a formal recommeNdATIoN to the WhIte HouSE, dEbATe has renEwEd iN WasHINgton On whEThEr the UniTed StaTEs Is ThrowinG gOod monEy AftEr bAd in AFGhanIstan. BUt as far aS the AFGhan government IS concerned, theRE’s REAlLY no sAfe Alternative.

“the TALibaN, whiLE tHey MAy not Be dirEcTLy PLanning direct attackS oN U.S. terRitorY, they provide tHe environmENT For all kiNds oF TeRRorist groups to OperaTe,” HamdullaH mohib, AfgHanisTan’s ambaSsador to WASHington, tOld Me. “IF we AllOW AnY terrorist groUP To suCcEed, it doEsn’T matter WhaT teRroRisT gRoup, it embOldens alL oF tHeM.”

THerE’s an iMMediate nEeD foR eQuiPment ANd persOnnel, He saId, BeFOre The starT Of THE sumMeR fIghtIng SeAson, wHich IS suRe to be bLoody. If thOusANds mOrE U.s. troops Arrive, they wouLd Serve in an aDvIse-And-traINIng role, nOt direct combat. But the ideA Is to embEd tHem in afghAn units, plAciNg them CloSEr to thE fightIng.

ThE AFghAN GoverNMEnT is AlSo asking foR HEliCopteRs, SpecIal forcEs gear and intelligeNCe aSsistance to fiLl uRgenT SHoRtfALlS. for ExAMplE, THe Afghan militarY’s fleet of RUsSIaN helicopteRS is MoStly groUnded, in Part bECause of A lack of spAre parts aS a ResuLT Of U.s. sanctions Against RUssia.

MohiB Is optIMiStic tHat trump’s TeAm iS open To the iDEa oF commItting MoRe resoUrces To afghanisTan.

“The hesitation that exiSted in The prEviOus adminiStrATioN is gone,” MoHib sAid. “The hesiTatIon Was thAt tHE U.S. diDn’t hAVe A goOD partNer
 whether to plunge more re sources an d tro ops  in to  the  Uni ted States’ lo n gest  war — Afghanistan — a s som eo f th e  p resid ent’s t o pg e ner al sare  c a ll ing f or.  The is sue pits P res id ent Trump’sc om mitment to  en d nation-bui ldi ng aga in sth is pr omi se to  stamp out te rrorism i na  confl i ct wher e aclea r U.S. strategy i s  s o rely lacking.
After  m o re t han  15  years ofU. S. fi g hting,t he w a r i s  at a crossro ads. The Af g han  natio na l s e curity  forc es are  on their h eels . The gov ernmen t  is ask i ng theUnited  St ate s an d  i ts  NA TO par t ne rst o h elp it g oon  offe nsea g a i nstthe  Tal iban,  which has be entaki n g t errit ory w ithth e hel p of P akist an , Iran and Russ ia.The top U .S.  c omm an der i n  Afgha nis tan , Gen.John W. Nic ho l s o n,  has publicly test if i e dthat hewants“ afe w  thousan d”  mo re t r o ops t here .  H e also s ays th e re  i s a nee dfor amo re“ho listi c  rev iew” o f the mi ssion . 

As Defense S e cretary Jim M a tt i s  p r epar esa formal re comm e ndat iont othe White  Hous e, de b ate has renewed inWa shingt on on  whether theUnited Sta t e s  is thro wing go o d money afterbad i n Afghanis t an. Butas fa r as the  Afghan g o v ernmentiscon cer ned , th ere’s reallyn o  saf ealterna tiv e.

“Th e T ali ban , w hi le they m ay not b edi re ct lyplann i ng direc tatt ac kson U. S . terr itory , th ey  p r ovi de thee nv i r onme nt  f or a llki nds o f te r ror ist gro ups to op era t e,”Ha md ullah M ohib, Afghani st an’s ambas sa dor  to Wa s h ington,told me. “If we allow a n y terro ris t gro up t o succeed , i t does n’t matter  whatterro ri stg r oup,i t  e mbo ld ens all of t hem .”

T he re’s  an imm ediate need for eq u ipm ent and perso nne l, h e sa id, be f ore  t h e s t a rt of the summe r fighting  s e as on, whichi s s ur e to be  bloody . Ift housand s more U. S. troops  a rriv e ,  th ey would s erve inan advise - and-t r ai ningrol e, not  d ire ct co mbat.B utthe i dea is  t o embe d the min Afgha n units, placing them c loserto th e f ighting.
Th e  Af ghan gove rnme nt is also  as kin g for  he l icopt ers, sp eci a l for cesg ear and i n te lli g e nc e assistanc e t o f ill u rge n t shor tfal ls. For example,t he Afghan mili tary ’ s  fl eet of R us sian helicopte rsis m ostly gr ou nded, in pa rt becau se of alack o f spar e parts a sa  resul t of  U. S. sancti ons  a g ainst R us si a .

Moh ib i soptimi stic t h at T r u mp’s team is ope n tot h e ide a  of  comm it ting mo r e re sources to  Afghanista n.

“T he h esita tion th at  exist edin  the previ o us admini strat ion isgo ne,”  Mo hib sa id.“ T he he sita ti onwas thatt h eU .S .d idn ’t h ave a  g oodpartner
 whether_to plunge_more resources and troops_into the_United_States’ longest_war_— Afghanistan —_as some of_the president’s top generals_are calling for._The_issue pits President Trump’s commitment to end nation-building against his promise to stamp out_terrorism_in a_conflict_where_a clear U.S. strategy is_sorely lacking.

After more than 15_years of_U.S. fighting, the war is at a crossroads._The_Afghan national security_forces are on their heels. The government is asking_the United States and its NATO_partners to help_it_go_on offense against the_Taliban, which has been taking territory_with the help of Pakistan, Iran_and Russia. The top U.S. commander in_Afghanistan, Gen. John W. Nicholson, has_publicly testified that he wants_“a few_thousand” more troops there. He_also says there_is a_need for a_more “holistic review” of the mission.

As_Defense Secretary Jim_Mattis prepares a formal recommendation to_the_White House, debate_has_renewed_in Washington_on whether the_United_States is_throwing_good money after bad in Afghanistan._But_as far as the Afghan government is_concerned, there’s really no_safe_alternative.

“The Taliban, while they_may not be directly planning_direct attacks on U.S. territory, they_provide the_environment for_all kinds of terrorist groups to operate,” Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s ambassador_to Washington, told me. “If we_allow any terrorist group_to succeed,_it_doesn’t matter what_terrorist_group, it_emboldens all of them.”

There’s an immediate need_for equipment_and personnel, he said, before the_start of the summer_fighting_season, which is sure to be_bloody. If thousands more U.S. troops_arrive, they would serve in_an_advise-and-training_role, not direct combat. But_the idea is to embed them_in Afghan units,_placing them closer to the fighting.

The Afghan_government_is also asking for helicopters, special_forces_gear and intelligence assistance to fill_urgent_shortfalls._For example, the Afghan military’s_fleet of Russian helicopters is mostly_grounded, in part because of a lack of spare_parts as a_result of U.S. sanctions against_Russia.

Mohib_is_optimistic that Trump’s team is open to the idea of_committing more_resources to Afghanistan.

“The_hesitation that existed in the previous administration is gone,” Mohib_said. “The hesitation was that the U.S._didn’t have a good partner