The Salem News: Moulton Calls for Long-Term Strategy after US Strike in Afghanistan
April 13, 2017
By Staff Writers
SALEM — Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Salem, again urged for a comprehensive, long-term strategy after U.S. forces dropped "the mother of all bombs" on Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan on Thursday.
“I have every reason to trust General Nicholson in his decision to employ this particular bomb, but let's not confuse this tactic for a strategy that will lead to long-term success in Afghanistan," said Moulton in a statement. "What we need is a comprehensive, integrated political-military strategy to ensure the peace after our military actions are complete.
"So far we've heard nothing but silence from President Trump, either now or during his campaign, on what that strategy should be — silence, when over 8,000 Americans are still deployed there in the longest war in American history."
On Thursday, U.S. forces in Afghanistan struck an Islamic State tunnel complex in eastern Afghanistan with a GBU-43B bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the U.S. military, Pentagon officials said.
Afghanistan officials reported Friday that 36 Islamic State militants were dead and there were no civilian casualties in the strike.
"Dropping bombs on terrorists is the easy part. Ensuring the success of Afghan politics, so Afghanistan can protect its own people from terrorism, is much harder. But it is the only thing that will actually win the war and bring our troops home,” said Moulton.
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