Outgoing U.S. commander in Afghanistan warns of worsening security - latimes

The outgoing commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan warned Congress on Tuesday that security will deteriorate further in the face of a resurgent Taliban unless the U.S. military makes a long-term commitment to stay.

Army Gen. John Campbell, who has commanded the international force since August 2014, said the Afghan military is "uneven and inconsistent" on the battlefield and plagued by corruption. He said the central government in Kabul probably won't be able to fully defend itself until the 2020s.

The warning is the latest from a U.S. military officer that suggests the Pentagon wants to reconsider President Obama's plan to cut the current U.S. deployment of 9,800 military advisors and special operations troops in half by the time he leaves office

It comes after a year that saw Afghan army and police suffer thousands of casualties as U.S.-led coalition troops steadily withdrew from the battlefield as part of Obama's effort to end America's longest war.

Campbell indicated to the House Armed Services Committee that he favors keeping the full complement of U.S. troops in Afghanistan at least through this year to bolster the fragile Afghan government. 

"Afghanistan is at an inflection point,” Campbell said. "I believe if we do not make deliberate, measured adjustments, 2016 is at risk of being no better, and possibly worse, than 2015."

Last week, Army Lt. Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., who has been nominated to replace Campbell, gave a similar message to the Senate committee. He promised to prepare a detailed assessment within 90 days of taking the job to determine how many U.S. troops are needed. - Read More at the latimes

Outgoing U.S. commander in Afghanistan warns of worsening security