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Ad will collapse in seconds CLOSE June 16, 2017 06/16/2017 1:39 pm By Adam K. Raymond Share Three of the U.S. soldiers already in Afghanistan. Photo: Ernesto Londoo/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will announce plans to send as many as 4,000 additional U.S. forces to Afghanistan next week in an attempt to help the withering Afghan military, the AP reports.

The U.S. currently has around 8,400 troops assisting the Afghan military in Afghanistan. Theyre serving alongside another 5,000 troops from NATO forces. The increase in American boots on the ground is needed to slow the progress of the Taliban, Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

The Taliban had a good year last year, and theyre trying to have a good one this year, he said. Mattis added that additional U.S. troops would provide air and artillery support to Afghan forces, who have seen 5,000 killed in 2016 alone.

Mattis has only this week gained the power to set troop levels in Afghanistan, an authority granted by President Trump on Tuesday. The move drew harsh criticism from the New York Times editorial board, which said it leaves the impression that he is cowed by the weighty responsibility of sending more Americans into battle, and is looking to put that onus on Mr. Mattis so he has somebody to blame if things go wrong.

Other critics have questioned the wisdom of sending new troops to Afghanistan without a clearly defined strategy. At Tuesdays hearing with Mattis, Senator John McCain emphasized the need for a plan. Were now six months into this administration, he said. We still havent got a strategy for Afghanistan. It makes it hard for us to support you when we dont have a strategy.

Another person whos not so sure about Mattiss plan to build up troops is the anonymous veteran who sent this depressing message to Washington Post reporter Thomas Gibbons-Neff.

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The Pentagon Is Reportedly Going to Send 4000 More US Troops to Afghanistan - New York Magazine