Free Republic

President Trump could be on his way out, but he’s still making waves in D.C. Last week, Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper. This set minds ablaze: why would Trump fire the defense secretary with only days left in his term? The speculation is that Esper was sacked over his refusal to remove American troops from Afghanistan. Trump reportedly wants to accelerate the withdrawal of U.S. troops before he leaves the White House. Reportedly, Trump has told his advisors he wants troops home from Afghanistan by Christmas. In place of Esper, Trump has appointed Christopher Miller as acting defense secretary....

For the past two days, U.S. and NATO forces have been conducting a major attack against a compound in a remote area of Eastern Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden or another senior al Qaeda leader may be hiding, ABC News has learned. According to eyewitnesses and local reporters in Kunar province, Coalition forces launched a fierce attack on a small enclave in the village of Mandaghel, approximately 17 miles from the border with Pakistan, on Friday afternoon. Warplanes pounded the positions ; U.S. special forces and Afghan National Army soldiers moved in shortly afterwards. The assault appeared to meet stiff...

Britain plans to order up to 4,000 of its toughest troops to start deploying in Afghanistan from April or May, the Sun tabloid reported on Wednesday. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence was not immediately available to comment on the story. Defence Secretary John Reid on Thursday will inform soldiers from the 16 Air Assault Brigade and the Parachute Regiment of their mission to Helmand province, The Sun said, quoting an unnamed "senior government figure". "There is no doubt this will be a dangerous exercise. But it is a vital mission for Britain to lead," the source told the...

A large majority of the Dutch parliament has approved the deployment of between 120 and 150 extra troops in Afghanistan. Only the Socialist Party opposed the move. The house was initially concerned about the safety of the Dutch soldiers, but Defence Minister Henk Kamp said that, in case of emergency, they would have the support of US troops in nearby bases. Their task is to restore peace to the province of Baghlan, where there are still regular clashes between local warlords. The soldiers will leave for northern Afghanistan in mid-September for a one-year tour of duty. Parliament will decide later...

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan had Osama bin Laden "within reach" on at least two occasions, but were unable to prevent him slipping away, France's top general said Wednesday. French chief of staff Gen. Henri Bentegeat, said the al-Qaida leader had evaded capture several times since 2002, but not recently. He didn't say where bin Laden had been tracked down, and refused to comment on whether French special forces operating in southern Afghanistan were involved. "Several times the coalition has had Osama bin Laden directly within reach," Bentegeat told reporters during a visit to the Afghan capital....