The Supreme Allied Commander Marine Corps Gen. James Jones believes that NATO allies must produce the additional 15 percent of troops agreed to a year ago for operations in Afghanistan. Right now, he says, NATO has provided only about 85 percent of the agreed manning. Missing capabilities include an attack helicopter squadron, C-130 tactical transports, and a tactical theater reserve battalion. Jones told reporters Sept. 7 that the NATO mission in Afghanistan would be “successful without [the additional resources],” but having them would make the operation go “quicker” and might “minimize casualties.”
The House and Senate passed a continuing resolution Sept. 25 to keep the government funded through Dec. 20, and President Joe Biden has indicated he will sign the legislation. Under a CR, the Department of the Air Force said, space launch and testing modernization will fall short and technologies that…