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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has granted the Pentagon authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan, a US official said last night, a move that could lead to the deployment of thousands more soldiers.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official told AFP that Pentagon chief Jim Mattis can now directly adjust troop numbers, though the official would not confirm whether a new “force management level” — currently at around 8,400 — had been finalised.
“The White House has done the same that it did with Iraq and Syria, which is to grant the secretary of defense the authority to set troop levels,” the official said, referring to recent adjustments Trump has approved for the fight against the Islamic State group in those two countries.
Under Barack Obama, troop levels in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria were closely managed by the White House and commanders complained they felt shackled by the strictures.
The development came just hours after Mattis gave lengthy testimony to lawmakers, some of whom were exasperated at how long it has taken for Trump to come up with a new strategy in Afghanistan.
The official said the final decision to give Mattis the power to adjust troop levels actually came during his testimony, at which he said America still is “not winning” in Afghanistan.
The “Taliban had a good year last year, they are trying to have a good one this year,” Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing about the Pentagon’s budget.
“Right now, I believe the enemy is surging.”
Invasion
Mattis’s latest assessment comes nearly 16 years after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and amid a war that continues to claim the lives of US troops each year — and those of thousands of local forces and civilians.
US military commanders, who saw fragile security gains eroded under Obama-era troop drawdowns, have been pushing for a new strategy that could see thousands of additional soldiers deploy to Afghanistan to help train and advise beleaguered Afghan partners.
Media reports have said Mattis is considering asking for 3,000 to 5,000 additional US and NATO troops, but the defense chief has said little on the matter.
In February, General John Nicholson, who commands NATO forces in Afghanistan, warned that he needs “a few thousand” more troops to reverse what he called a stalemate.
Despite months of expectation that a full Afghanistan strategy announcement is imminent, Mattis said the new plans not be ready before mid-July.
Republican Senator John McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, voiced his “palpable” frustration.
“We’re now six months into this administration, we still haven’t got a strategy for Afghanistan,” McCain said, noting it was difficult to get behind an Afghanistan budget request without knowing what the plan is.
“We know what the strategy was for the last eight years: Don’t lose. That hasn’t worked.”
Mattis acknowledged the reality on the ground.
“We are not winning in Afghanistan right now. We will correct this as soon as possible,” he said.
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Don’t bend over!
I wonder can the infrared distinguish haha
“The pumps will cost $50,000 each, not including installation, which may put some stations off, but the makers say that the system increases delivery speed and is 30 per cent faster than normal pumps”
Never gonna take off here. There’s something about the Irish psyche when it comes to getting petrol. I’ve honestly never seen anyone get visibly pissed off because they’ve had to wait a while to fill their car up. Opposed to the US where someone would nearly pull a gun on you if they thought you were dawdling at the pump.
We’re far too laid back for this carry on
Laid back? I work at a petrol station and I can safely say your wrong. Dismissing new technology based on finance is a joke. Supply and demand will sort that one out
God, Kevin.. you’re such a expert on markets. Your talents are truly wasted behind the till at Topaz.
You think Irish petrol stations would be interested in this, when most of them rely on sales of other kinds to operate? Where’s the incentive for the company to set up an office here dedicated to installation and maintenance?
I’m not ‘dismissing’ new technologies due to costs. I’m stating that such technologies are neither required nor worth investing in here, at this time. Convince your boss to have one of these installed and I’ll reconsider my opinion!
Not interested in this model but certainly the tech. The future is the future don’t let old trends hold it back
A robotic fuel pump that will open up your fuel door and begin filling up your car automatically.
What happens if you only pull in to the garage for the paper and milk???
Don’t park at a pump
Ahhhh so your on of them persons who parks at the pump to go in the shop
Or park with fuel door on opposite side
You will still get fuel!
What about the woman with all the kids in the car that goes in and wants 5 ninety nines and a cappuccino.. Can they speed her up 2?
We’ll be waiting…
Ah c’mon….. It took me about 5 years to get used to the “Pay at pump”> <" Pay in kiosk" option at Tesco.
Nothing worst than the Muppet that Parks at the pump and dose the weekly shop. Inconsiderate Yankers
And I’m sure it will have an impact on your wallet
Robotic petrol pumps and self driving cars, soon there won’t be any need for people
For the on coming zombie apocalypse when you don’t want to get out of your car because of the carnage. Jaysus the Americans can come up with some shite so they don’t have to get off there arses. Prefer to fill up meself. Down with robots. They are taking are jobs.
This would do away with any impulse buys in the shop. Why would a business person pay 50 grand for something that will cost him sales?
Yet another invention so the average American doesn’t have to get off their fat, lazy arse.
A major problem will be the fuel flaps which are not standardised . Totally impractical
It’s the first of many innovations. Whole this may be impractical future models may fix these issues.
As a former garage forecourt operative , designer and car enthusiast i would be inclined to disagree . Car manufacturers dont have standard system even across their own ranges . Whilst it would be possible to design a standard filling system , would it be adopted….? No way . Is it really that much of a hardship to fill a car with fuel ? No its not. So not worth the effort
Great idea, but it’ll add to the already increasing sedentary population!
New technologies? Why don’t we just start with the basics first, like new fuels, instead of the sh!t fuels available here.
Well that’s going to fk up part-time jobs, kids earning extra pocket money over the weekend and during school holidays… Oh, forgot… Don’t do this here.
I take it the sums have been done and the speed and quantity of cars coming through the station with these automatic pumps outweighs the profits made off the shop.
Similar to Michael O’Leary’s vision for airports, or lack thereof i.e. the need for smaller airports to process a larger number of passengers, this could reduce the need for large petrol stations.
A solution to a problem that doesn’t exist?
Anything that takes people out of the equation has to be welcomed
“Open up your fuel door” in my car that requires pulling a lever by the driver’s seat…..hows it gunna work that one out?
What does it do if my fuel cap has a key lock?? Hmmmm
How would it open a screwy on cap without doing it yourself ha nice try think of something better
have your say