| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| US Afghan commander: Russia 'legitimizing' Taliban to undermine US, NATO |
| 2017-02-10 |
| Russia is trying to legitimize the Taliban in order to undermine the United States and NATO, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan said Thursday. “The Russian involvement this year has become more difficult,” Gen. John Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “First, they have begun to publicly legitimize the Taliban. This narrative that they promote is that the Taliban are fighting Islamic State and the Afghan government is not fighting Islamic State and that, therefore, there could be spillover of this group into the region. This is a false narrative.” “I believe its intent is to undermine the United States and NATO,” he later added. Nicholson was testifying about the current situation in Afghanistan, which he called a stalemate that he needs a few thousand more troops to break. Among the challenges in the country are the actions of external actors such as Pakistan, Iran and Russia, Nicholson said. He said Russia's meddling in Afghanistan started in 2016 and continues to increase. In addition to spreading a narrative that the Taliban is fighting the Afghan branch of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Russia has also organized a series of meetings to discuss the future of Afghanistan without inviting the Afghan government, Nicholson said. “Afghanistan is trying to work with all of its neighbors and all of the stakeholders,” he said. “They've reached out to the Russians about this. And we believe, that a peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan should be Afghan-led.” Nicholson also alluded to “reports” about Russia supporting the Taliban more directly. 'Alluded to reports?' What about confirmed and validated intelligence reporting? The Russian meme continues. Nicholson’s comments on the difficulty Russia poses in Afghanistan come as President Trump has talked about wanting to mend relations between Moscow and Washington. Senators from both parties have been critical of Trump’s position on Russia, and Nicholson’s testimony could add fuel to their arguments against improving relations with Moscow. After hearing Nicholson’s testimony, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said Trump should know that Russia has been “cozying up” to the Taliban. “I think we better let President Trump know that,” he said. But wait! Isn't that something that should be highlighted (special update) in the “President's Daily Brief,” or P.D.B. ? Nicholson replied: “Yes, sir.” |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #11 Yeah. They won't let US bomb Hanoi... Err... TET Offensive and Cronkite... |
| Posted by: newc 2017-02-10 19:39 |
| #10 They did a forcible set up of government last time. This time they'll let the Taliban do it on their own (with encouragement) and set some limited but enforceable expectations when the Talibs take Kabul. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2017-02-10 16:08 |
| #9 ...that sort of didn't work the last time they tried that in Afghanistan. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2017-02-10 11:01 |
| #8 he's going to help the muscle that protects the drug lords? Something doesn't compute It's the idea of feeding the feral dogs terrorizing the neighborhood in the hope that you can tame them later when everyone else has moved away. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2017-02-10 10:53 |
| #7 Putie really wants to end the heroin traffic that floods his country, so he's going to help the muscle that protects the drug lords? Something doesn't compute. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2017-02-10 08:24 |
| #6 Viet, Laos, Cambod redux. Until the border sanctuaries are dealt with, forget it. Sweden and Norway are not the problem, it's fok'n Pakistan ! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-02-10 07:46 |
| #5 Nicholson was testifying about the current situation in Afghanistan, which he called a stalemate that he needs a few thousand more troops to break Umm..no. More than 16 years, 2,400 Americans killed, and billions wasted and you call it a stalemate?? The other side won. Until we go Genghis Khan on the TB/HQN/ISIS in both AF/PAK, we will not win. We're obviously not going to do that so why bother being there at all. |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2017-02-10 07:29 |
| #4 Legitimizing at least some Taliban has been declared US policy since October of 2001. |
| Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 2017-02-10 05:11 |
| #3 How is that going to work for you? Russia? LOL |
| Posted by: newc 2017-02-10 03:55 |
| #2 "These who don't remember history" |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2017-02-10 01:44 |
| #1 ...Nicholson said. He said Russia's meddling in Afghanistan started in 2016 and continues to increase. The Great Game started in 2016, wow, who knew? The Russians seem to be fishing troubled waters all around their national borders. If Afghanistan is a failed state, that the US will eventually(soon?) give up on, it seems reasonable that the Russian Bear would explore future ties. Is Gen. Nicholson is someone like Wesley Clark who can be profitably ignored? |
| Posted by: magpie 2017-02-10 01:24 |