Trump Gives Mattis Authority to Set Troop Levels in Afghanistan

US President Donald Trump has given Defense Secretary James Mattis the authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan, a US official told Reuters on Tuesday, opening the door for future troop increases requested by the US commander. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said no immediate decision had been made about the troop levels, which are now set at about 8,400. “We are not winning in Afghanistan right now,” Mattis said in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier on Tuesday. “And we will correct this as soon as possible.” The US general commanding NATO forces in Afghanistan, John Nicholson, had in February told Congress he faces a “shortfall of a few thousand” troops, and warned that “we’re in a stalemate”. The United States has about 8,400 troops in Afghanistan and another 5,000 are from its NATO allies.