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Generals say Afghanistan, Somalia pullouts hurt terror fight
The Associated Press ^ | March 15, 2022 | By LOLITA C. BALDOR

Posted on 03/15/2022 1:31:14 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The complete U.S. military withdrawals from Afghanistan and Somalia last year have made it more difficult for the United States to counter terror groups that aspire to attack America and its allies, senior commanders told Congress on Tuesday.

And they said Russia and China are both seeking to bolster their influence in the Middle East and Africa, with Moscow being the more “acute threat” right now.

Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command, said sending teams of U.S. forces into Somalia on a periodic basis is not efficient or effective and puts American troops at greater risk.

“In my view, we are marching in place at best. We may be backsliding,” Townsend told the Senate Armed Forces Committee. He said troops “commuting to work” has created new challenges, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is considering changes there.

Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said the U.S. has not launched any strikes on Islamic State insurgents in Afghanistan since the U.S. military pulled out of the country last August. He said the militant group has grown since the U.S. left and there are concerns about its ongoing development. He said the group has carried out high-profile attacks in Afghanistan and still aspires to strike the U.S. and allies.

And, while McKenzie stressed that his top priority in the Middle East is countering the malign activities of Iran, both he and Townsend said Russia and China are continuing to try to expand their economic and military influence across his region and Africa. As the U.S. withdraws troops, both countries will try to capitalize on America’s absence, they said.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; brandon; military; somalia

1 posted on 03/15/2022 1:31:14 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Every action is intended to advance the destruction of this country.


2 posted on 03/15/2022 1:32:40 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Ukraine is not a good country and does not deserve active US support.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Then why don’t you quit, you beauracrats.


3 posted on 03/15/2022 1:32:57 PM PDT by HighSierra5 (The only way you know a commie is lying is when they open their pieholes.p)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The Biden Crime Family is doing just fine.


4 posted on 03/15/2022 1:34:57 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The deep state has filled its USA and EU quotas of Afghan and Somali Migrants, so there’s no need to be there any longer to move them out.


5 posted on 03/15/2022 1:37:32 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Hey, maybe if we stopped operating a shuttle service for them and stopped letting them into the country there wouldn’t be a problem.


6 posted on 03/15/2022 1:38:15 PM PDT by dljordan
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Thank you Captain Obvious.


7 posted on 03/15/2022 1:38:37 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Stay out of the ME and close our borders to certain nations ...we don’t need any more people!


8 posted on 03/15/2022 2:00:03 PM PDT by toddausauras (How far will the left go in terms of destroying our personal freedoms?)
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