Asked about the source of the increased activity and lethality of enemy forces in Afghanistan during a Sept. 23 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright attributed it partly to advisers from outside Afghanistan “that are there and are managing the relationship between the two groups [forces from Pakistan and within Afghanistan], setting them up for complex attacks.” He went on to say that these advisers have learned to strike quickly to avoid coalition and NATO aircraft. Cartwright explained, “They are smart enough to know that they can engage us for about 20 or 30 minutes and then they must break contact because our air will get there.”
A Golden Dome task force established under U.S. Northern Command earlier this year has a broad remit, which includes fielding the capability to defend the U.S. against missile and drone attacks, its leaders said this week. Some of the primary focuses right now are ensuring Golden Dome can defend itself…