Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, whose first combat experience was in Afghanistan as a major in special operations in December 2001, is now overseeing the drawdown of U.S. troops to 2,500, likely the lowest number of troops in the country since that time. In remarks to reporters covered by Stars & Stripes and Military.com following his unannounced visit to Kabul earlier this week, Miller expressed optimism about the situation in Afghanistan and about the writ he has from President Donald Trump for the drawdown.
The Kabul visit not only included meetings with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and U.S. commander Gen. Scott Miller, but also with special operations troops at two camps on the front lines. “I went there on purpose because I’m going to get the real deal from these guys. And their smart-ass comments and their insights led me to the conclusion we’re in a good place,” Miller said, without going into detail. Miller said he had talked to General Miller “extensively” about the work special operations troops will conduct in the next couple of months as all U.S. forces are expected to leave the country by May 2021. “I feel like the circle’s complete,” he said. “This was the first time I was in combat. ... Now to be here, to see the contours now with the war winding down, it’s hugely, I don’t want to say emotional, but pretty significant.”
