Afghanistan vets reassured by Trump reversing calls for exit

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Many veterans who have fought in America’s longest war say it’s reassuring that President Donald Trump reversed his past calls for a speedy exit from Afghanistan because they don’t want the sacrifices they’ve made to be in vain.

Trump recommitted the U.S. to the 16-year-old war in a national address Monday.

He says the U.S. will shift away from a “time-based” approach and instead link its assistance to results and to cooperation from the beleaguered Afghan government, Pakistan and others.

Veterans praised shifting away from a timeline enemy fighters could just wait out, but some worried that the strategy was too vague.

While many were pleased that it appears Trump won’t micromanage the military in Afghanistan, some questioned whether victory is possible, given war fatigue among Americans.