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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Pick to lead Afghanistan forces says situation is worsening

Richard Lardner Associated Press

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Thursday the security situation in the war-torn country is deteriorating and assured senators he will do a thorough review of American troop levels needed to stabilize the nation.

Army Lt. Gen. John W. “Mick” Nicholson Jr. told the Senate Armed Services Committee he will have a better sense of conditions in Afghanistan within a few months if he is confirmed by the Senate.

As wartime commanders must often do, Nicholson walked a fine line during his confirmation hearing. He supported the Obama administration’s exit strategy, which critics have derided as politically driven, while also promising the senators his decisions will be grounded in sound military strategy.

He peppered his answers with phrases like “right-sized” and “right-sourced” to make sure Afghanistan didn’t devolve into the same terrorist harbor it was before the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. mission in Afghanistan is to conduct counterterrorism missions and to train and assist the Afghan security forces.

Nicholson would succeed Gen. John Campbell, who is expected to retire.

There are about 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. At Campbell’s urging, Obama decided last October to abandon his plan to reduce troop levels to near zero by the end of 2016. Instead, he said they would shrink to 5,500 by the end of the year. His advisers could press Obama to maintain the current level of 9,800 troops until he leaves office in January 2017.

Asked at a Pentagon news conference whether the Taliban is making a comeback, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said: “That’s happened this past fighting season. We expected that.” And while the Afghans fought well last year, he said, they are still “a force-in-the-making” that can be expected to perform better this year as they gain more experience and capability.

Carter said Campbell has not recommended to him any increase in U.S. troop levels.