Defense Secretary Jim Mattis admitted to Congress Tuesday that the U.S. is losing in Afghanistan, and promised to deliver a new strategy in a matter of weeks.
“We are not winning in Afghanistan right now, and we will correct this as soon possible,” Mattis testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Mattis told senators that a revamped strategy was being finalized and that Congress would be briefed by mid July.
The promise came after sharp questioning from Chairman Sen. John McCain, who said his frustration was “palpable,” that it was nearly six months into the new administration and there was no change from the policies of President Barack Obama.
“It makes it hard for us to support you when we don’t have a strategy,” McCain said. “We know what the strategy was for the past eight years, ‘don’t lose.’ That hasn’t worked.
“We want a strategy,” McCain said later in the hearing. “I don’t think that’s a hell of a lot to ask.”
Mattis promised to present a new plan next month.
“We’re putting it together now, and there are actions being taken to make certain that we don’t pay a price for the delay,” Mattis said. “We recognize the need for urgency and your criticism is fair, sir.
“We have entered a strategy-free time, and we are struggling to put it together,” Mattis added later.
McCain noted that three U.S. soldiers died over the weekend, and said Congress owes the American people a strategy that will lead to success in Afghanistan.
“Let’s not ask these families to sacrifice any further without a strategy which we can then take and implement and help you,” McCain said. “I’m fighting as hard as I can to increase defense spending. It’s hard when we have no strategy to pursue.”
Mattis said the new strategy would be focused on reducing the level of violence in the country, ending the Taliban’s freedom of movement, and restoring the integrity of the Afghan government, which has been riddled with corruption.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford added that reducing the high level of casualties suffered by the Afghan security forces is also a priority, which will involve additional air support to ground combat operations, until Afghanistan can build up its own fledgling air force.
But both Pentagon leaders agreed the trend in Afghanistan has not been positive.
“I don’t assess that we are in better shape than we were last year,” Dunford said. “I think the Taliban had a good year last year, they are trying to have good one this year,” Mattis added. “Right now I believe that the enemy is surging.”
