Trump Seeks New Ideas For Fighting War In Afghanistan From Service Members

President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence, left, and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, speaks while having lunch with services members in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington,... President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence, left, and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, speaks while having lunch with services members in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is having lunch with service members to come up with new ideas for fighting the war in Afghanistan.

Trump tells reporters before the lunch on Tuesday that he wants “to find out why we’ve been there for 17 years, how it’s going and what we should do in terms of additional ideas.”

He adds that: “We have plenty of ideas from a lot of people, but I want to hear it from people on the ground.”

The Trump administration has been searching for an improved approach to achieving the goal it inherited from the Obama administration: getting the Afghan government to a point where it can defend itself.

He’s largely ceded decision-making to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who is expected to send nearly 4,000 more troops to the country this summer.

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  1. I thought you knew more than the generals?

    We’re still waiting for you plan to defeat ISIS that you promised just…any day now!

  2. HURRY ! …

    Need…Photo … Op –

  3. Although I hate him (Trump) and I think he is using these guys for the optics, it’s a smart move. At least let them have their say.

    1. Shoot the enemy.
    2. ???
    3. Declare victory.

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