AFGHANISTAN/CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to meet with Afghan leaders and U.S. military officials Monday [4-24-17], taking a fresh look at a 15-year war where he served during its first optimistic months.
Mattis’ visit capped a six-country tour through the Middle East, his first as secretary of defense, and comes as the Trump administration considers additional troops to fight the Taliban and defeat ISIS across the region.
His top commander in the country, Gen. John Nicholson, has told Congress he believes the war is at a ‘stalemate’ and has suggested that the NATO coalition needs several thousand more troops to turn the tide. There are approximately 8,400 U.S. personnel serving in Afghanistan.
Neither Mattis nor President Donald Trump has given a public indication if they support Nicholson’s request for additional troops.”
-Hans Nichols, “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Makes Unannounced Trip to Afghanistan,” NBC News, April 24, 2017 7:42am