Valerie Jarrett on “60 Minutes” last month credited Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama with ending two wars during his term. The interview aired just as news broke that the U.S. had taken out Taliban leader Mansour in Pakistan with a drone strike.
https://twitter.com/refinnej8841/status/741098198459158528
It would really spoil Jarrett’s narrative if she were to learn that President Obama just expanded the role of the U.S. military in Afghanistan (again), so don’t talk about it, OK? There might be boots on the ground there, but U.S. troops are there strictly to train and advise. And maybe fight a little bit.
Exclusive: Obama approves broader role for U.S. forces in Afghanistan https://t.co/qinqsRZhFn
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 10, 2016
JUST IN: Obama expands the role of U.S. forces in Afghanistan https://t.co/BGb5l5Y8wo pic.twitter.com/3AAVlLYBJH
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 10, 2016
US widens military role in Afghanistan once more. New authorities could mean broad fight vs Taliban https://t.co/qQj49mDBaR @tmgneff and me
— Missy Ryan (@missy_ryan) June 10, 2016
According to Reuters, General John Nicholson, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, now will have the authority to decide when it is appropriate for American troops to accompany conventional Afghan forces into the field. Reuters notes this sort of escort had previously been limited to Afghan special operations forces.
“U.S. forces will more proactively support Afghan conventional forces” under the new policy, a senior U.S. defense official explained.
"No Boots on the Ground" @POTUS Confused, INEPT, "commander in chief"
— Mauricio D Mendez (@mauriciod44) June 10, 2016
Related:
State’s John Kirby elicits laughs from press defending ‘no boots on the ground’ policy
Remember when Obama promised ‘I will not put American boots on the ground in Syria’?
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