Some want more CIA agents in Afghanistan, others say that's not realistic
Jason Ditz
With some officials interested in ensuring a long-term US presence in Afghanistan, and negotiations that would have the US military ultimately leaving the country, some in the Trump Administration are looking at the CIA as a stop-gap.
The CIA has a long-standing presence in Afghanistan, but it is embedded with US troops, and adding more CIA personnel with no place to embed them could be a problem, with Pentagon officials quick to point out that obvious issue.
This is giving way to a lot of further debates about post-war Afghanistan, and some appear to be arguing against a peace deal if they can’t have a huge CIA presence indefinitely after that.
Trump seems to be trying to keep those in his cabinet happy, promising the US will “always” have a presence in Afghanistan. There is no obvious middle ground to take, however, as the Taliban is sure to consider any large military presence a non-starter.
The CIA has a long-standing presence in Afghanistan, but it is embedded with US troops, and adding more CIA personnel with no place to embed them could be a problem, with Pentagon officials quick to point out that obvious issue.
This is giving way to a lot of further debates about post-war Afghanistan, and some appear to be arguing against a peace deal if they can’t have a huge CIA presence indefinitely after that.
Trump seems to be trying to keep those in his cabinet happy, promising the US will “always” have a presence in Afghanistan. There is no obvious middle ground to take, however, as the Taliban is sure to consider any large military presence a non-starter.
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