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UP FRONTWednesday 3 January 2018
US general wants more aggressive Afghanistan push
By LOLITA C. BALDOR U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, speaks to reporters at the Pentagon. Votel wants a more aggressive can. So that as we get into
Associated Press Afghan military pressuring Taliban and other insurgents over the normally quieter months of this next fighting season
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Afghanistan’s winter, and then quickly going on the offensive in the spring. It’s all part of a plan we can build on the initia-
top American commander the United States hopes will change the course of a war now entering its 17th year. tive,” he said. The Trump
for the Middle East wants administration’s Afghani-
a more aggressive Afghan (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) stan strategy gives the U.S.
military pressuring Tal- military greater authority to
iban and other insurgents ensure American and al- launch offensive attacks
over the normally quieter lied forces have adequate against a resilient Taliban
months of Afghanistan’s protection. The goal is to and an emerging Islamic
winter, and then quickly get the Afghan military State affiliate. The plan,
going on the offensive in moving on its military cam- announced in August, was
the spring. It’s all part of paign sooner, rather than designed to reverse a stale-
a plan the United States later. The United States mate in America’s longest
hopes will change the wants the “focus on of- war. It specifically elimi-
course of a war now enter- fensive operations and nates the Obama admin-
ing its 17th year. we’ll look for a major effort istration’s scheduled plan
Gen. Joseph Votel of U.S. to gain the initiative very to withdraw U.S. forces,
Central Command said quickly as we enter into but includes no dramatic
an influx of new American the fighting season,” Votel changes in an approach
trainers can help escalate said in a recent interview that has failed to stabilize
the fight. They’ll be oper- with The Associated Press. the country or snuff out ex-
ating with Afghan units, Afghan forces must “keep tremist groups operating
closer to the front lines and the pressure on all the time from Afghan territory.
at greater risk, but Votel and work to gain the up- As 2018 begins, Afghani-
said U.S. commanders will per hand as quickly as we stan appears to be high on
President Donald Trump’s
agenda. On New Year’s
Day, he slammed Afghani-
stan’s neighbor Pakistan
in a tweet for “lies & de-
ceit,” accusing the coun-
try of playing U.S. leaders
for “fools” by not crush-
ing militants in its territory.
A major focus of Trump’s
Afghanistan strategy is to
persuade Pakistan to elimi-
nate havens for the Taliban
and other fighters.
Pakistan summoned the
U.S. ambassador and Is-
lamic groups held rallies
in major Pakistani cities in
response.q
AP: Trump sounds open to
dialogue with North Korea
By M. PENNINGTON rea. He referred to the re-
Associated Press cent, dramatic escape of
WASHINGTON (AP) — at least two North Korean
President Donald Trump soldiers across the heav-
sounded open Tuesday ily militarized border into
to the possibility of an in- South Korea. He also al-
ter-Korean dialogue after luded to Kim’s comments
North Korean leader Kim Monday that he was will-
Jong Un made a rare over- ing to send a delegation
ture toward South Korea in to the Winter Olympics,
a New Year’s address. But which will be hosted by
Trump’s ambassador to South Korea next month.
the United Nations insisted “Soldiers are dangerously
talks would not be mean- fleeing to South Korea.
ingful unless the North was Rocket man now wants to
getting rid of its nuclear talk to South Korea for first
weapons. In a morning time. Perhaps that is good
tweet, Trump said the U.S.- news, perhaps not - we
led campaign of sanc- will see!” Trump said, us-
tions and other pressure ing his derisive moniker for
were beginning to have a the young North Korean
“big impact” on North Ko- leader.q
