An Iraq Styled Exit Strategy Will Not Work In Afghanistan

Reuters

Tanya Goudsouzian, National Interest: The Iraq Exit Strategy Will Not Work in Afghanistan

They are two different battlefields with very different variables.

Last week, President Trump announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, fulfilling his oft-repeated promise to get America out of “dumb wars in the Middle East.” Along with that announcement was a message to start planning a withdrawal from Afghanistan. Early indications are that more than 7,000 American troops —out of 14,000—will return home soon. And probably sooner than the Pentagon would want.

While the move no doubt undercuts the Afghan government’s position in the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban, President Ashraf Ghani claimed it would not impact security in the country. Afghan military generals did not agree with this assessment, saying the move would be seen as a defeat. Indeed, the Taliban reportedly reacted with “ cries of victory .”

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WNU Editor: I concur. Afghanistan is not Iraq.