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James Mattis Confirms Giving Authority to Set Troop Levels in Afghanistan
“At noon yesterday, President Trump delegated to me the authority to manage troop numbers in Afghanistan,” Mattis told the Senate Appropriations Committee during a hearing on the Pentagon’s budget request.
“The delegation of this authority, consistent with the authority President Trump granted me two months ago for Iraq and Syria, does not at this time change the troop numbers for Afghanistan,” Mattis added.
“This assures the department can facilitate our missions and nimbly align our commitment to the situation on the ground,” he said of the new authority.
“Our overall mission in Afghanistan remains the same, to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces so they can safeguard the Afghan people and terrorists can find no haven in Afghanistan for attacking us or others,” Mattis said, saying the new strategy for Afghanistan will be presented to Trump in the “coming weeks.”