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A2 UP FRONT
Friday 22 december 2017

At Guantanamo: Pence to Afghan president:

Mattis gives US troops a pep talk US ‘here to see this through’

ready for war. By KEN THOMAS leased in August, to “fight
He gave no hint about the Associated Press to win” in Afghanistan
future of Guantanamo Bay KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) by attacking enemies,
as a prison for terror sus- — Vice President Mike routing al-Qaida and
pects, and did not visit the Pence told Afghan Presi- preventing terrorist at-
detention center, which dent Ashraf Ghani on a tacks against Americans.
President Barack Obama secret visit Thursday to Af- The first-year president
tried unsuccessfully to ghanistan that the U.S. is has urged the U.S. to
close. “here to see this through” shift away from a “time-
Mattis, the first defense as they discussed a newly based” approach to the
secretary to visit the base announced U.S. strategy protracted conflict by
since Donald H. Rumsfeld to break the stalemate linking U.S. assistance to
in January 2002, shortly af- in America’s longest war results and cooperation
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis talks to U.S. Marine Corps troops at ter the first prisoners arrived and consulted on up- from the Afghan govern-
a rifle range at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Thursday, Dec. 21. from Afghanistan, said the coming parliamentary ment, Pakistan and other
2017. The unannounced visit was the first by a defense secretary main goal of his trip was to elections. partners.
since Donald Rumsfeld visited in January 2002 shortly after the offer holiday cheer and let Pence’s surprise pre- The White House has de-
first prisoners arrived from Afghanistan. the troops know their work Christmas visit was the first scribed the new Afghani-
(AP Photo/Robert Burns) is appreciated. to the war-torn country by stan plan as a “regional”
By ROBERT BURNS day to begin a pre-holiday He also made a point of either Trump or the vice strategy that aims to culti-
AP National Security Writer tour of military bases, urg- defending the way prison- president, and it came vate cooperation among
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL ing troops on this Navy ers have been treated at as the Trump administra- other South Asian nations,
BASE, Cuba (AP) — De- base to set a good exam- Guantanamo Bay, which tion charts a pathway to including the overturning
fense Secretary Jim Mattis ple for politically divided has been called an infa- ending the 16-year war in of Pakistan’s harboring of
chose an unusual site Thurs- Americans and be always mous torture center.q Afghanistan. elements of the Taliban.
“We’re here to see this At least 15,000 U.S. forces
through,” Pence told are in Afghanistan after
Ghani and Afghan Chief Trump sent about 3,800
Executive Abdullah troops to the country this
Abdullah at the presiden- fall to enhance U.S. efforts
tial palace in Kabul, arriv- to advise Afghan forces
ing after a helicopter ride and conduct counterter-
through smoky, dark skies rorism missions.
surrounding Afghanistan’s The expected deploy-
capital. ment of hundreds more
Later, at a rally-style U.S. Army trainers to Af-
event at Bagram Air Base, ghanistan early next year
Pence told hundreds of could increase the total
U.S. troops that he be- number of American forc-
lieved “victory is closer es there to nearly 16,000,
than ever before.” U.S. officials have said.
“It’s because of all of you Top U.S. officials, including
that we’re safe. It’s be- Secretary of State Rex Til-
cause of you that we’re lerson and Defense Sec-
free. It’s because of you retary Jim Mattis, met with
that freedom has a future Afghan leaders in recent
in Afghanistan and Ameri- months in hopes of stabi-
ca and all across the wid- lizing the country. But in a
er world,” Pence said. sign of the delicate secu-
Pence also received brief- rity situation, the Taliban
ings from military leaders, unleashed a barrage of
including Gen. John Nich- rockets at the Kabul in-
olson, the top U.S. com- ternational airport in late
mander in Afghanistan. September that targeted
The White House restrict- Mattis’ plane during his
ed the use of cellphones trip to the country. The
and internet communica- U.S. responded with an
tions for a small group of airstrike.
journalists traveling with The Trump administration
the vice president, cit- has sought to foster strong
ing security concerns in relations with Ghani as
Afghanistan. Pence was he attempts to curb cor-
on the ground for about ruption and prepare for
6 1/2 hours before they parliamentary elections
were allowed to report on next year. Ghani has ex-
his whereabouts and ac- pressed hope of bringing
tivities. 80 percent of the country
Pence’s trip was focused back under the govern-
on Trump’s strategy, re- ment’s control.q