US Army General John Nicholson looks on during an interview in Kabul on October 23, 2016 Basic leadership failures in many Afghan police and military units are helping drive casualty rates to ever-higher levels, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan warned on October 23, 2016. Afghan forces are nearing the end of their second year providing security across their war-torn country, after NATO moved into an advisory and training role, and the toll on the local forces has been devastating. Basic leadership failures in many Afghan police and military units are helping drive casualty rates to ever-higher levels, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan warned on October 23, 2016. Afghan forces are nearing the end of their second year providing security across their war-torn country, after NATO moved into an advisory and training role, and the toll on the local forces has been devastating. (AFP Photo/Thomas WATKINS)
FOX News: US general accuses Russia, Iran of boosting Taliban in Afghanistan
The top commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan denounced Russia and Iran during a Pentagon briefing Friday, charging the two nations were “legitimizing” the Taliban inside Afghanistan.
“Russia has overtly lent legitimacy to the Taliban,” Gen. John W. Nicholson told reporters. “This public legitimacy that Russia lends to the Taliban is not based on fact, but it is used as a way to essentially undermine the Afghan government and the NATO effort … so it’s not helpful.”
“Shifting to Iran, you have a similar situation. There have been linkages between the Iranians and the Taliban,” said Nicholson.
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WNU Editor: US Army General John Nicholson is accusing Russia and Iran of boosting the Taliban while stating that the Afghan Army is getting better at repelling the Taliban .... Afghan forces lose some ground but improving overall: US general (AFP). What's my take ....the Afghan government and their U.S. allies are losing the war in Afghanistan, and they are looking for excuses while avoiding blame on what is going wrong.
