The United States' Senate Committee Chairman on Armed Services, John McCain has threatened to offer President Donald Trump his own Afghanistan Strategy following the failure of his administration to develop a clear military policy to address lingering security challenges in the country.
The Senator who made this known in a statement issued on Monday disclosed that he was working toward amending the National Defense Authorization Act in September to provide a strategy for Afghanistan, which remains a controversial issue in US politics.
The statement reads in part "More than six months after President Trump's inauguration, there still is no strategy for success in Afghanistan. Eight years of a 'don't lose' strategy has cost us lives and treasure in Afghanistan. Our troops deserve better. When the Senate takes up the National Defense Authorization Act in September, I will offer an amendment based on the advice of some our best military leaders that will provide a strategy for success in achieving America's national interests in Afghanistan."
During the confirmation of Patrick Shanahan as the Deputy Defense Secretary, McCain had expressed dismay over the delay by the Administration to provide a military strategy, stressing that he could be forced to make his own strategy available.
"I want to work with this administration, I want to work with this President, work with the new secretary of defense, who I happen to be one of the most ardent admirers of. But I have to tell you in a couple of weeks were going to mark up the defense authorization bill. The President has two choices: Give us a strategy, or we will put a strategy that we develop into the defense authorization bill."
CNN reports that the release of Aghanistan Strategy by the Trump's administration has been delayed following a disagreement between the National Security Adviser, H.R McMaster and the President's Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. While the former is arguing for an increased in troops, the later is averse to getting the US more involved in the crisis.
