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President Trump on Saturday again deferred on publically choosing a path forward for the 16-year-old Afghanistan war,but hinted on Twitter that a decision had been made.

Important day spent at Camp David with out very talented Generals and military leaders, Trump wrote on Twitter following a high-level meeting at Camp David to discuss options with his core national security team.

Many decisions made, including on Afghanistan," he tweeted.

The meeting included Defense Secretary James MattisJames Norman MattisTrump to tackle Afghanistan strategy at Camp David Four members of Joint Chiefs denounce racism US, Japan conduct air drills after North Korea issues Guam warning MORE, Secretary of State Rex TillersonRex Wayne TillersonOPINION | There is no Trump administration Why the next Fed chief will be a Republican who loves low rates Why this US-North Korea standoff is different MORE, CIA Director Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoUS general, S. Korean leader meeting Monday: report CIA director: 'No intelligence' to suggest US on cusp of nuclear war Trump: Maybe threat on North Korea wasn't 'tough enough' MORE and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. Vice President Pence cut short a trip to SouthAmerica to attendthe meeting.

Trump was briefed extensively on a new strategy to protect America's interests in South Asia, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters after the meeting.

The president is studying and considering his options and will make an announcement to the American people, to our allies and partners, and to the world at the appropriate time, Sanders said.

The president was widely expected to make a decision on an updated strategy for the war in Afghanistan months ago, but held off, frustrating top national security and defense officials as well as lawmakers.

Thisisnot the first time the president was widely expected to make a decision on an updated strategy for the war in Afghanistan but held off, frustrating top national security and defense officials as well as lawmakers.

A variety of reasonsare driving the delay, includingthe complexity of the conflict and the presidents hesitation to make a decision that may ultimately prove to be the wrong move, according to JamesCarafano, a defense policy expert at the Heritage Foundation

We need a strategy thats going to be sustainable maybe eight years. There is no short answer here, said Carafano, who wasamember of the Trump transition team.

The burden really is on the national security team to show Trump they have the most effective strategy to do that, because this is then going to be his war, his responsibility.

Members of the administration still hold disagreements on the best path forward for Afghanistan, which will include how to handle conflicts along the border of Pakistan. Military leaders are pushingforadditional U.S. troops, but Trump has reportedly been wary ofcontinued American presence in the region.

Mattis and National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. HR McMaster want to send 3,000 to 5,000 additional troops to the country to combat the Taliban, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and al Qaeda.Recently oustedchief strategist Stephen Bannon, however,hadurged against it,saying that would amount tonation building.

Other options on the table includeusing private contractors,withdrawingaltogether orkeepingthe current strategy, which consists of the existing 8,400 U.S. troop continuing to train, advise and assist Afghan forces in their fight against the Taliban andconductingcounterterrorism missions.

In July,Trump showed hisreluctanceto side with his military advisorsby increasingtroop numbers.

Weve been there for now close to 17 years, and I want to find out why weve been there for 17 years, how its going, and what we should do in terms of additional ideas, Trump told reporters.

When asked about a possible troop increase, Trump only said, Well see.

The immobility on a plan also has bothered lawmakers, including Sen.John McCain(R-Ariz.), whoearlier this monthunveiled his own strategy for Afghanistan.

Now, nearly seven months into President Trumps administration, weve had no strategy at all as conditions on the ground have steadily worsened, McCain said in a statement. The thousands of Americans putting their lives on the line in Afghanistan deserve better from their commander-in-chief.

AnthonyCordesman, a military strategy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, saidthe president is deeply frustrated with his list of military options, a complex formula that depends upon the backing of the Afghan government.

Foreign policy experts have expressed doubt thatAfghanPresident Ashraf Ghani will be able to stop corruption and effectively use American aid to bolster the Afghan National Security Forces. Pentagon leaders would depend on the forces to keep out terrorist groups once U.S. troops leave.

The Afghan government is very divided, it's weak, Cordesman said. Even if [Trump] does all the military recommends, there is a 50-50 chance that the Afghanistan response is going to be effective enough. Everything were doing depends on the Afghans.

Cordesman also suggested that Trumps reported criticism of the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Nicholson, likely stems from Nicholson told him the truth and the truth is unpleasant.

Trump in July 19 meeting with hisnational security team pushed to fire Nicholson,NBC Newsreportedearlier this month.

We aren't winning, Trump complained during the meeting. We are losing.

The options are so uncertain and so complex and confusing, Cordesman said. Not the kind of forward, positive proposal that [Trump] may be used to.

Cordesman added that the longer Trump waits to make a decision, the worse it will be for soldiers on the ground. Afghanistans fighting season lasts into the fall. With no plan yet given as of late August, nothing you do now is going to be effective, you lost pretty close to a year to actually influence the situation on the ground.

Even with no decision yet announced, Carafano said it was significant that Trump and his national security team went off site to Camp David to discuss options.

Obviously I wish the process had gone on sooner, I think part of that is the difficulty of the decision.Afghanistan involves a lot of moving pieces and you have to make a commitment that will stick longer over time, he said.

Mattis, meanwhile,promised again Thursdaythat the administration is coming very close to a decision, and I anticipate it in the very near future.

Earlier this month, Trump assured reporters of the same thingat his club in New Jersey.

We're getting close. We're getting very close, Trump said. It's a very big decision for me. I took over a mess and we're going to make it a lot less messy.

- This report was updated at 2:08p.m.

Original post:
Trump again puts off Afghanistan war decision - The Hill