NATO will take control of some 12,000 American troops based in eastern Afghanistan, a decision agreed upon by the alliance’s defense ministers and US military officials. A NATO statement said the International Security Assistance Force would expand to include another 14 provinces in the eastern section, and would be assisting the Afghan government with security throughout the country. NATO says the expansion would be implemented once US Marine Gen. James L. Jones, NATO’s operational commander, issues an activation order, expected shortly.
The Air Force is putting emphasis on operations and maintenance and research and development. The Army and Navy want to go on a buying spree. The Space Force budget is approaching and may yet surpass the Marine Corps. And non-service “Defense-Wide” funding got the biggest bump of all.