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Trump Made Afghanistan Decision After ‘Rigorous’ Review: Mattis

The US Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Sunday President Donald Trump has made a decision on the United States' strategy for Afghanistan after a "sufficiently rigorous" review process, Reuters reported.

Mattis did not provide details on when the White House would make an announcement or what the decision was on Afghanistan.

This comes after Trump’s administration began a review over US policy on Afghanistan soon after taking office in January. 

"I am very comfortable that the strategic process was sufficiently rigorous and did not go in with a pre-set position," Mattis told reporters traveling with him aboard a military aircraft to Jordan. "The president has made a decision. As he said, he wants to be the one to announce it to the American people."

On Friday, Trump met with his national security aides to review an array of options for the Afghan strategy but the White House said no decision had been made on whether he would commit more troops to America's longest war. 

However, Trump after the meeting tweeted on Saturday: "Many decisions made, including on Afghanistan".

The US officials told Reuters that the president was expected to be briefed on options ranging from a complete withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan to a modest increase.

One US official, speaking on 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, according to the report.

Trump Made Afghanistan Decision After ‘Rigorous’ Review: Mattis

US President Donald Trump has made a decision on the United States' strategy for Afghanistan after a "sufficiently rigorous" review process, Pentagon chief said.

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The US Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Sunday President Donald Trump has made a decision on the United States' strategy for Afghanistan after a "sufficiently rigorous" review process, Reuters reported.

Mattis did not provide details on when the White House would make an announcement or what the decision was on Afghanistan.

This comes after Trump’s administration began a review over US policy on Afghanistan soon after taking office in January. 

"I am very comfortable that the strategic process was sufficiently rigorous and did not go in with a pre-set position," Mattis told reporters traveling with him aboard a military aircraft to Jordan. "The president has made a decision. As he said, he wants to be the one to announce it to the American people."

On Friday, Trump met with his national security aides to review an array of options for the Afghan strategy but the White House said no decision had been made on whether he would commit more troops to America's longest war. 

However, Trump after the meeting tweeted on Saturday: "Many decisions made, including on Afghanistan".

The US officials told Reuters that the president was expected to be briefed on options ranging from a complete withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan to a modest increase.

One US official, speaking on 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, according to the report.

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