Mike Pence op-ed: Donald Trump's new American strategy for Afghanistan will undo past failures

Under President Trump, America will not write a blank check for countries that fail to root out the same forces who try every day to kill our people.

President Trump has no higher priority than the safety and security of the American people. Since the very first day of our administration, he has taken decisive action to protect our citizens, our country and our very way of life — and on Monday, President Trump announced a new strategy for addressing threats from Afghanistan and South Asia that will enhance the security of our homeland and protect our people from those who would do us harm.

America must prevent terrorists from regaining a foothold in Afghanistan — the country from where al-Qaeda, aided by the Taliban, planned and directed the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Yet the previous administration publicly placed an arbitrary end date on military operations in Afghanistan, enabling the Taliban to bide its time and begin a renewed campaign to reconquer its lost territory. We need only look at Iraq, and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria following the last administration’s withdrawal of U.S. forces, to see where this path leads.

Vice President Pence and President Trump(

Carolyn Kaster, AP)

President Trump has reversed that policy. And important, he has ensured that our armed forces will have the resources and authorization they need in order to succeed.

The president has authorized our armed forces to directly target the terrorists and militant networks that sow violence and chaos throughout Afghanistan, who put our soldiers at risk and destabilize the region. He has lifted the restrictions that prevented our commanders in the field from fully using their judgment and expertise to carry out their critical missions. Bureaucrats don’t win battles; our brave men and women in uniform do, and they deserve the flexibility they need to fight and win every time.

Read the rest from VP Mike Pence HERE and follow links to related stories below:

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