Aug 20, 2017

Mattis: Trump has reached decision on Afghanistan strategy

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

Defense Secretary James Mattis said Sunday that, after a "sufficiently rigorous" review, President Trump has decided on a strategy for the War in Afghanistan.

"The president has made a decision. As he said, he wants to be the one to announce it to the American people."

Per Reuters: "One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Trump's top national security aides are backing adding between 3,000 and 5,000 troops and allowing them to embed with Afghan forces closer to combat."

Flashback: This has been a contentious process within the administration. Trump reportedly stunned Mattis and other top officials by leaving a July Situation Room meeting without reaching a decision on Afghanistan. According to NBC News, Trump said the U.S. was "losing" the war and that he wanted a new commander in Afghanistan.

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Nancy Pelosi: "I yearn for other Republican presidents"

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on President Trump Thursday to exercise "the full power" of the Defense Production Act to meet coronavirus equipment needs and accused him of engaging in a "massive dereliction of duty" by ignoring science during the pandemic.

What she's saying: "I yearn for other Republican presidents," Pelosi said at a press conference. "While we may have disagreed on many points, but at least we had a shared commitment to the governance of our country."