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President Trump has authorized his secretary of defense, James Mattis, to determine American troop levels in Afghanistan. Mattis confirmed this Wednesday morning in a hearing before the Senate Appropriations committee. "At noon yesterday, President Trump delegated to me the authority to manage troop numbers in Afghanistan," Mattis said.

The New York Times had reported Tuesday night that Trump had given Mattis that authority. "Mr. Mattis is believed to favor sending several thousand more American troops to strengthen the effort to advise Afghan forces as they push back against gains made by the Taliban, the Islamic State and other militant groups," reported the Times. "But officials said he had not yet decided how many more forces to send to Afghanistan, or when to deploy them."

During both the Obama and Bush administrations, Afghanistan troop levels were watched closely by the president and the White House. But while the policy is changing, Mattis told the Senate that there are no immediate plans to change troop levels. "The delegation of this authority, consistent with the authority President Trump granted me two months ago for Iraq and Syria, does not at this time change the troop numbers for Afghanistan," he said.

Mattis told the Senate Armed Services committee on Tuesday that the administration would have a new strategy on Afghanistan by mid-July. Last month the president's national security team presented a strategy proposal to Trump that would, among other changes, raise troop levels. Mattis and Trump's national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, are believed to be particularly strong advocates for the plan.

The White House has not said whether or not Mattis's "mid-July" promise is accurate or consistent with the president's timeline. "It is indeed what Mattis said," said one White House official.

Senate Passes Russia Sanctions, But White House Has No Position Yet

The Senate voted 97-2 Wednesday to pass a package of new sanctions against Russia. The two nays were Republicans Rand Paul and Mike Lee.

The Associated Press writes the sanctions were designed as a rebuke against Russia's interference in last November's presidential election. "The measure has been attached to a bill imposing penalties on Iran that the Senate is currently debating and also has strong support," reports the AP.

But the sanctions are also seen as a response the Trump administration's lack of admonishment for Russia. A White House official tells me the administration is still reviewing the sanctions amendment and will not take a position until after the House of Representatives considers it and the full bill makes it to the president's desk.

"The administration remains committed to existing sanctions against Russia and will keep them in place until Moscow fully honors its commitments to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. We believe that the existing executive-branch sanctions regime is the best tool for compelling Russia to fulfill its commitments," said the White House official. "In its current form, the legislation poses a number of risks to the administration's ability to conduct foreign policy. However, we are not opposed to tough legislation involving Russia sanctions. We remain committed to working with Congress on this issue."

White House Reacts to Scalise Shooting

The White House was relatively quiet Wednesday after the early-morning shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, that left five peopleincluding House majority whip Steve Scaliseinjured.

"The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected," said President Trump in a statement issued shortly after the first news reports broke.

Later on Wednesday, the president spoke from the White House about the incident. "Congressman Steve Scalise, a member of House leadership, was shot and badly wounded, and is now in stable condition at the hospital, along with two very courageous Capitol police officers," Trump said.

The president singled out Scalise, the third-ranking member in the House of Representatives, calling him a "patriot and a fighter."

"Steve, I want you to know that you have the prayers not only of the entire city behind you but of the entire nation and, frankly, the entire world," said Trump. "I spoke with Steve's wife, Jennifer, and I pledged to her our full and absolute support. Anything she needs."

Trump offered praise to the Capitol police, who were on the scene as part of Scalise's security detail. "Our brave Capitol police perform a challenging job with incredible skill. Their sacrifice makes democracy possible," said Trump. He also lauded the first responders in Alexandria, Virginia, where the group of congressmen and their aides were practicing for Thursday's charity baseball game against Democratic members of Congress.

The president closed with a message to the country. "We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation's capital serves because above all they love our country. We can all agree we are blessed to be Americans," he said.

Trump Disapproval at All-Time High

More Americans than ever disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as president. According to Gallup's daily approval metric, Trump's disapproval rate hit 60 percent for the first time on Tuesdaya worse rating than Gallup ever recorded for FDR, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, or Barack Obama. Meanwhile, the percentage of Americans who approve of Trump's performance shrunk to 37 percent.

Trump's weekly approval rating is also trending downward, polling at 41 percent, 38 percent, and 37 percent over the last three weeks.

One explanation for the slide could be the president's highly publicized fight with fired FBI director James Comey. Trump and Comey have each accused the other of lying about the nature of their relationship in the early months of the administration. A Politico poll released on Wednesday reports that 45 percent of voters trust Comey's version of events, while only 32 percent trust Trump's.

Despite Trump's slipping ratings, his own party appears to be sticking with him: 81 percent of Republican voters still approve of his job performance, according to the poll.

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Trump Delegates Afghanistan Troop Levels to Mattis - The Weekly Standard

New York Times

Women's Voices of Afghanistan Rise in Gemma Peacocke's Song Cycle New York Times During her travels in Afghanistan, the journalist and poet Eliza Griswold collected dozens of landays, a form of poetry recited by women at village feasts and in refugee camps, as well as on clandestine poetry phone-ins. The composer Gemma Peacocke has ...

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Women's Voices of Afghanistan Rise in Gemma Peacocke's Song Cycle - New York Times

New York Times

Roadside Bomb Hits American Convoy in Afghanistan New York Times JALALABAD, Afghanistan Three civilians were killed after a roadside bomb hit a convoy of American soldiers early Monday in Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials in the area. The civilians were killed when soldiers ... US convoy hit by roadside bomb in eastern AfghanistanABC News Families share memories of US soldiers killed in AfghanistanCBS News US forces attacked in AfghanistanCNN Washington Post -ArmyTimes.com -Military.com -CNN all 156 news articles »

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Roadside Bomb Hits American Convoy in Afghanistan - New York Times

The Pentagon on Monday released the names of the three U.S. soldiers killed in an attack by an Afghan army soldier over the weekend.

The U.S. soldiers were identified as:

- Sergeant Eric M. Houck, 25, of Baltimore, Maryland

(Sgt. Eric M. Houck, 25 -- 101st Airborne Division)

- Sergeant William M. Bays, 29, of Barstow, North Carolina

(Sgt. William M. Bays, 29 -- 101st Airborne Division)

- Corporal Dillon C. Baldridge, 22, of Youngsville, North Carolina

(Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge, 22 -- 101st Airborne Division)

The soldiers were shot Saturdayin Peka Valley, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. A fourth U.S. soldier was injured in the attack.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the act. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that a militant loyalist had infiltrated the Afghan army "just to attack foreign forces."

The soldiers were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Company D, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team Rakkasans deployed last fall in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

"Today, as we grieve, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Cpl. Baldridge, Sgt. Houck and Sgt. Bays. We take this as a family loss, said Maj. Gen. Andrew Poppas, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell. In the days ahead, the 101st Soldiers and the Rakkasans will continue the fight against terrorism with unbridled determination. Our Soldiers are battle-hardened and committed to the defense of our nation and the freedoms for which we fight."

The three soldiers posthumously earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. Baldridge was posthumously promoted to Sgt., and, along with Bays, earned the Combat Infantry Badge and Army Commendation Medal. Houck was posthumously awarded the Combat Action Badge and Army Commendation Medal.

In his White House press briefing Monday afternoon, Press Secretary Sean Spicer acknowledged the loss of the soldiers in Afghanistan. Spicer said their thoughts and prayers are with the families of the American heroes.

The Pentagon is investigating the incident.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

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Afghanistan shooting: 3 US soldiers killed are identified ...

President Trump has given the Pentagon new authorityto decide the troop levels in Afghanistan, a U.S. official said Tuesday. The move could lead to a deployment of thousands more troops as commanders decide the way forward in the 15-year-old war.

The U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymityto talkcandidly, said the move is similar to the April decision that gave the Pentagon more authority to set troop levels in Iraq and Syria. The change, the Pentagon said, was so units could deploy at their proper strengthto better maintain unit cohesion.

With the new authority, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis could authorize deployment of additional troops to Afghanistan, something commanders on the ground have been requesting for months. Gen. John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and his direct superior, U.S. Central Command head Gen. Joseph Votel, have both made cases for sending a few thousand more troops. If sent, the forces would help the fledgling Afghan military regain portions of the country that have fallento the Taliban since U.S. forces ended their combat mission therein 2014.

The decision from the White House comes the same day Mattis told lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee that we are not winning in Afghanistan. Mattis said the Taliban was surging throughout the country and that he planned to present lawmakers with a strategy for the United States longest-running war by mid-July.

Incensed, the chairman of the committee, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said Congress couldnt pass a budget without a strategy.

We cant keep going like this, McCain said.We know what the strategy was for the last eight years: Dont lose. That hasnt worked.

When asked what winning looks like, Mattis replied that it would mean a long-term U.S. presence and Afghan security forces that were capable enough to controlviolence at local levels.

Its going to be an era of frequent skirmishing and its going to require a change in our approach from the last several years if were to get it to that position, Mattis said.

In the short term, Mattis and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., said additionalU.S. troops sent tothe country would provide morefire and air support to the Afghans.Airstrikes and artillery, they reasoned, would give the Afghan forces breathing room to build a more effective force.

In the first eight months of 2016, Afghan forces suffered 15,000 casualties, including more than 5,000 killed. Recruiting efforts have barely been able to keep the Afghan security forces from maintaining their current ranks, let alone growing to a size large and capable enough to project security in the country.

The Taliban had a good year last year, Mattis said.

With an air force that is in its infancy and corruption rampant in the ranks, some experts thinkit could take years for the Afghan forces to mature enough to lessenthe U.S. role in the country.

There are about 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan and about5,000 additional NATO forces in the country. The U.S. contingent is split between conducting counterterrorism operations alongside Afghan commandos and providing assistance to the Afghan military.

More than 2,000 U.S. troopshave died there since the war began in 2001. Thousands of Afghan civilians have been killed, as well. More than 3,000 Afghan civilians were killed in 2016, making itthe deadliest year for civilians in the country since the U.N. mission there began tracking casualty numbers in 2009.

On Saturday, three U.S. soldiers were killed in an apparent insider attack in Afghanistans restive east where U.S. Special Operations forces are battling the Islamic States Afghan affiliate.

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Trump gives Pentagon authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan - Washington Post