Esper Warned About Pulling Troops from Afghanistan

“Then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper sent a classified memo earlier this month to the White House asserting that it was the unanimous recommendation of the chain of command that the US not draw down its troop presence in Afghanistan any further until conditions were met,” CNN reports.

“The assessment from the chain of command — Esper, US Central Command leader Marine Gen. Kenneth ‘Frank’ McKenzie and commander of NATO’s mission in Afghanistan Gen. Austin Miller — stated that the necessary conditions had not been met. Others agreed, sources tell CNN, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley.”

“The memo is believed to have been one of the main reasons why outgoing President Trump fired Esper last week.”