The nominee to be the next commander of the Resolute Support Mission and U.S. forces in Afghanistan emphasized to the Senate Armed Services Committee today that the mission in Afghanistan is necessary to protect Americans from terror attacks in the homeland.
Army Lt. Gen. Austin S. Miller testified before the committee as part of his confirmation process to replace Army Gen. John M. Nicholson. Miller is the commander of Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“I've learned a lot in the past 17 years,” Miller told the committee. “I've learned there are groups that want nothing more than to harm Americans. I've learned these groups thrive in ungoverned spaces. And I've also learned when we maintain pressure on them abroad, they struggle to organize and build the means to attack us. I understand our core goal in Afghanistan is to ensure terrorists can never again use the country as a safe haven to threaten the United States or other members of the international community.”
Miller also emphasized that the battle in Afghanistan cannot be won through military victories: it must be backed up by diplomacy with neighboring countries, political agreements inside Afghanistan and economic development.
Afghanistan Responsibilities
His job in Afghanistan will be twofold: oversee the NATO…
