One of the biggest changes in the war in Afghanistan over the past year is the new involvement of Russia and Iran in that country, Army Gen. John Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. Nicholson, commander of Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan, said Russia is waging an information war that intends to produce a “public legitimizing of the Taliban.” US intelligence has also had received “reports of support provided to the Taliban in the north” by Russia, Nicholson said. Russia’s goal, he said, is ultimately to disrupt American influence in the region. While admitting that Russia has “legitimate concerns” in Afghanistan relating to narcotics and terrorism, he said Russia refuses to acknowledge that “we are dealing with those concerns.” Iran, Nicholson said, has been using the Taliban as a “medium” for channeling support to terrorist groups in the country. While “undermining the Afghan government” is the aim of both Russia’s and Iran’s engagement, Nicholson said Afghan-Iran relations have greater “potential for positive outcome” because of real “mutual interests” in commerce and water rights between the two countries.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.