When I left Afghanistan in 2007, our target of a 216,000-strong Afghan army and police force was unmet. This security force included no serious air force, artillery, logistics or medical services, since it was designed on the assumption that the war was largely over. Critically, Afghan security forces trained with U.S. and NATO forces, and thus learned to fight as we do — with air support. But from January 2014 to November 2016, that air support was withdrawn. Nonetheless, our advisory presence still does not cover every Afghan army corps, nor their subordinate brigades.

Source: Washington Post August 09, 2017 23:37 UTC