CIA Wants Permission to Kill Terrorists in Afghanistan

The CIA is pushing for approval to conduct lethal drone strikes in Afghanistan for the first time, an idea that some in the Pentagon reportedly worry could place US troops in danger. Despite the reported concerns, US President Donald Trump is leaning toward giving a thumbs up to the proposal and Defence Secretary James Mattis isn’t necessarily opposed, The New York Times reported. Under current policy, the CIA has authority to conduct covert drone strikes against Al-Qaeda and other terrorist targets in Pakistan, but the Pentagon generally takes the lead on drone strikes against suspected terrorists in Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and other conflict zones. The New York Times reported that amid this ramp-up, CIA Director Mike Pompeos has reportedly been working to convince Trump to approve the proposal for Afghanistan drone strikes and seems confident the president will side with him.