Afghanistan war

Taliban Claims It Shot Down US B-52 Bomber in Afghanistan - Reports

The alleged attack comes days after the Taliban targeted a US convoy in north-eastern Afghanistan, killing three soldiers.

Taliban* militants have claimed they shot down a US B-52 heavy bomber, Syrian news site Muraselon reports.

The incident purportedly took place when the aircraft was departing from the Shawrab Airbase in southern Afghanistan in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

"Mujaheddin (a militia fighter) of the Islamic Emirate targeted a US B-52 bomber with heavy weapons today early morning in Lar area in the Washir district of Helmand Province," a spokesman for the Taliban was quoted as saying.

The B-52 is said to have crashed after the strike, killing all of its crew. Both Afghan and US authorities are yet to comment on the matter.

Afghanistan war

Here’s the blueprint for Erik Prince’s $5 billion plan to privatize the Afghanistan war

Blackwater founder Erik Prince thinks the time is right to try a new approach in Afghanistan, one that he says will reduce war spending to a sliver of its current levels, get most troops home and eliminate Pakistan’s influence on U.S. policy there: Let him run it.

In an exclusive interview with Military Times, Prince shared new details about his proposed force and why he believes a small footprint of private military contractors and even smaller footprint of U.S. special operators may be able to accomplish what hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops and NATO forces over the last 17 years could not.

Prince first presented the idea as President Donald Trump took office last year, hoping that the president’s long-stated opposition to keeping U.S. forces in Afghanistan would open the door to a privatized presence.

But Trump listened to his national security team instead, including critics of the plan like Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

Afghanistan war

US Defense Secretary Mattis arrives unannounced in Afghanistan for reconciliation talks with the Taliban government and says that victory in America's longest war is still possible

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has arrived in the Afghan capital to facilitate a reconciliation with the Taliban government.

His visit will take stock of the war, with emphasis on prospects for drawing at least some Taliban fighters towards reconciling with the Afghan government.

His visit Tuesday was unannounced due to security concerns.

The visit comes as the US injects new resources into the stalemated war.

Speaking to reporters, Mattis says that victory is still possible, meaning a political settlement with the Taliban could be in the cards. 

Mattis said he would be meeting with President Ashraf Ghani and top U.S. commanders. 

Afghanistan war

Allies Will Be in Afghanistan for Decades: Ex-CIA Chief

General David Petraeus, a former CIA director and former commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan said American forces are likely to stay in the country for decades after an increase in troop numbers, The Times in Britain reported.

 “The analogy with Afghanistan isn’t perfect, given that is a true shooting war, but when we have had significant national interests at stake, we have sustained efforts, and I think that is why a sustained commitment is important here but also why that has to be sustainable,” he told The Times.

He “wouldn’t hazard a prediction” on how long NATO forces would be in Afghanistan, but indicated that the 16-year war, America’s longest, was set to last.

“This is not the fight of a decade, much less a few years,” he said. “We are engaged in a generational struggle. That is why we need sustained commitments that are sustainable. I believe that this is a sustainable sustained commitment,” he said.

Afghanistan war

Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan suggests fight will take longer

Lingering problems with local security forces and the resurgence of Taliban fighters may force U.S. troops to stay longer in Afghanistan than previously planned, the top American military commander in the region suggested on Tuesday.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Army Gen. John Campbell — head of U.S. Forces Afghanistan — said that local security forces "cannot handle the fight alone" without assistance from foreign allies and gaining that capability will take "well beyond this year."

Afghanistan war

Rep. Hunter to besieged major: CIA should be paying you

The Army alleges that Golsteyn, in a job interview with the CIA, admitted to killing an unarmed Afghan in Marjah, Afghanistan, in 2010. Golsteyn believed the man to be a known bomb maker, according to the Army's account. An Army investigation into a violation of the rules of engagement, however, failed to find sufficient corroborating evidence to charge him...