Pentagon report reveals confusion among U.S. troops over Afghan mission

Amid fierce fighting after the Taliban captured the northern Afghan city of Kunduz  last year, U.S. special forces advisers repeatedly asked their commanders how far they were allowed to go to help local troops retake the city.

The issues exposed in the report are likely to be considered by the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, as he prepares to makes recommendations in the coming weeks that may clarify or expand the level of combat support the U.S.-led training mission can provide.

"It's not a strategy and, in fact, it's a recipe for disaster in that kind of kinetic environment," said the soldier, who, like others in the report, was not identified.

He added that his unit, whose role was to advise and assist Afghan forces without engaging in combat, asked three times for commanders to clarify the rules governing their mission.

"Sadly, the only sounds audible were the sounds of crickets ... though those were hard to hear over the gunfire."

U.S. MISSION UNDER REVIEW

While acknowledging a lingering "lack of understanding in the West" about the U.S. and NATO role in Afghanistan, U.S. military spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland denied there was confusion among troops over the broader mission. - Read More at the Reuters

Pentagon report reveals confusion among U.S. troops over Afghan mission

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