Despite headlines proclaiming heavy civilian losses and recriminations from Afghan President Hamid Karzai following air strikes in Afghanistan recently, International Security Assistance Forces spokesmen say local Afghani leaders are actively turning against the Taliban. Local officials in the Helmand Province met with ISAF and Afghan National Army officials to discuss the air strikes; it was the local officials who explained to residents that the Taliban were at fault for using civilians as shields. In another province, local officials booted Taliban fighters and sought a meeting with ISAF officials to discuss the way forward.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.