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2021-06-12 Afghanistan
US Begins Combat Operations in Afghanistan from Abroad
[ToloNews] US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin on Thursday said the US military has already begun conducting combat operations and surveillance in Afghanistan from outside the country’s borders, but he did not mention whether the United States military will still conduct Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
s in the country to defend population centers after the withdrawal completes.

"Going forward, in terms of our (counterterrorism) efforts, those CT efforts will be focused on those elements that can possibly conduct attacks against our homeland," Austin said as quoted by the Air Force magazine.

Austin said the US military is already conducting air combat patrols and support from ships in the Gulf and sending surveillance aircraft to Afghanistan from nations in the Gulf region.

As of now, he said, the US is still looking for options to station troops and aircraft in neighboring countries to make the flight to Afghanistan shorter.

"We have the capability now to do that," Austin said. "What we are looking for is the ability to shorten the legs going forward by stationing some capability in neighboring countries. That is still a work in progress."

In response to a question on whether US aircraft would strike in support of Afghan forces to protect cities after the withdrawal, Austin said he would not speculate on "any potential outcomes or any potential future actions."

"We continue to provide support to the Afghan cops as we retrograde," he said. "Once we have completed our retrograde, that will be very difficult to do because our capabilities will have diminished in country."
Posted by trailing wife 2021-06-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ]  Top

#1 The reliance on UAV weapons platforms will certainly make the Defense establishment very very happy, and the opportunities for corruption are very great. I suspect the senior Politburo members and allies at the WH and Kalorama Kompound are already positioned to benefit from the contract growth. Inevitably there will be an eventual need to use those manned systems with higher payloads, and, inevitably we will see American Pilots, especially females, in captivity. Remember the way Russians were treated and imagine the CNN/MSNBC coverage that will follow.
Posted by NoMoreBS 2021-06-12 17:12||   2021-06-12 17:12|| Front Page Top

#2 I still believe 'success' in combat and the battlefield means taking and holding terrain. Whack a'mole will likely never produce victory....unless done with tactical
or strategic nukes.
Posted by Besoeker 2021-06-12 17:22||   2021-06-12 17:22|| Front Page Top

#3 Has the US ever removed all troops from country where it conducted operations?
OK, Vietnam.
Posted by ed in texas 2021-06-12 19:35||   2021-06-12 19:35|| Front Page Top

#4 those CT efforts will be focused on those elements that can possibly conduct attacks against our homeland,"

We all know donkey fcukers in Helmand don't have ICBMs. Perhaps you should be talking to England, about their latest Afghan imports, who will soon be visiting America as UK citizens.
Posted by Dron66046 2021-06-12 23:42||   2021-06-12 23:42|| Front Page Top

05:28 Whiskey Mike
05:23 Whiskey Mike
05:21 Whiskey Mike
05:18 Whiskey Mike
05:15 Whiskey Mike
05:13 Whiskey Mike
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05:03 Whiskey Mike
03:23 Besoeker
02:05 Grom the Affective
02:04 Grom the Affective
01:26 49 Pan
00:22 EMS Artifact
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