In Afghanistan, new Defense Secretary praises local troops
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Sunday called Afghanistan's army "a powerful force in their own right" but declined to say whether he thinks the U.S. can scale back military training and advising this year as planned.
Carter wrapped up two days in the war zone by consulting with U.S. and Afghan commanders at Kandahar air field, an important hub in the network of U.S. advisory posts that are due to close before year's end.
In a question-and-answer session with reporters at this base in southern Afghanistan, Carter declined to say whether his visit had convinced him that the Kandahar operation should stay open longer.
The advisory work here will wind up this summer unless President Barack Obama alters his plan for ending the U.S. military presence.
"I'm not prepared to share conclusions except with him, when I reach them," Carter said. He said he was impressed by progress in professionalizing the Afghan army and police.
"The Afghan security forces have become a powerful force in their own right, and good partners in their own way," he said.
Carter, who started as Pentagon chief just last week, is preparing recommendations to Obama about the future of the American military presence in Afghanistan. On Saturday, Carter met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and said afterward that Obama is considering whether to slow the pace of U.S. troop withdrawals this year and next.
The U.S. now has about 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, including about 2,000 training and advising in Kandahar.
On Monday, Carter was convening a meeting in Kuwait of U.S. military commanders, intelligence officials and diplomats for what his aides billed as a free-wheeling discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the Obama administration's strategy for countering the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Carter intends to examine the intellectual underpinnings of the strategy against IS, including the bombing campaigns and their connection to broader political and regional goals, a senior defense official said.
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In Afghanistan, new Defense Secretary praises local troops