Pentagon Expands ISIS Strikes To Afghanistan

January 23rd, 2016

Amid ever-growing indications that ISIS is establishing itself as a proper faction in southeastern Afghanistan, based around the city of Jalalabad, the Pentagon has reportedly been given broad new authority to launch attacks on ISIS targets in the country.

Previously, the US forces in Afghanistan were limited to attacking ISIS targets in that country only when they met specific criteria, such as being a threat to troops on the ground. The new rules have not been made public, but are said to allow them to attack “any terrorist group” in Afghanistan, including ISIS.

Several Congressional hawks had been agitating for the change for months, accusing the administration of not taking the threat of the ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan seriously. Recently, Pentagon reports have indicated they believe the affiliate is more or less fully functional, and no longer in the embryonic stage it was previously presented as occupying.

Still, ISIS in Afghanistan has fairly limited territory, and has chiefly fought against the Taliban for what they do have. The group appears to have nationwide ambitions, however, and is recruiting across many provinces, trying to attract young Islamists away from the Taliban and toward their organization.

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Comments

SeaNote

Buy Defense Stocks, they go up when the bombs go down.
Simiansez

This is much more devious than just a coincidental vicious cycle. This is strategy.
Now, we’re back in Afghanistan!
America’s MIC has become a lethal world house guest that won’t go away and keeps showing up for dinner, uninvited.
Once we open a door into another country whose primary industry is goat herding and thanks to us, Opium production, we somehow think we own it.
It’s becoming increasingly embarrassing for America as a people.
Lost in america

The limited attacks against ISIS rather than an all out assault with ground troops has allowed them to spread into other countries. Strategic bombing and an occasional drone drops are not sufficient to destroy the monster. It takes extreme determination and ruthlessness. The US is too self-conscious of its military actions and looks for nuances when broad aggressive strokes are needed.
- TecumsehUnfaced
  
  ISIS are proxies of ours. Muslim radical have been American proxies for destabilization and subversion since Carter and Brzezinski.
  
  https://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/2967/262/original.jpg
  - Lost in america
    
    ISIS is a proxy for what? Muslim radicals were used in Afghanistan, true. The alliances are more complex. The US could be doing anything since they are so confused about the Middle East. There is no consistency between the current Administration and Carter. Any seeming connection is random. You are insulting Iran by not including their contributions as well. They are a major player in the Middle East. How could Tim Anderson forget about them?
    - TecumsehUnfaced
      
      You’re claiming the Iran is supporting ISIS? How?
      - Lost in america
        
        No just that Iran is a factor in the Middle East. It is not up to just the other countries.

Pentagon Expands ISIS Strikes To Afghanistan

The new rules have not been made public, but are said to allow them to attack “any terrorist group” in Afghanistan, including ISIS.

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