Pentagon's Top Lawyer: The U.S. Is Still In An Armed Conflict In Afghanistan

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason Basilides leads his soldiers on a dismount mission near Forward Operating Base Baylough, Zabul province, Afghanistan, March 17, 2009. Basilides is the platoon leader of 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Adam Mancini

The Hill: Top Pentagon lawyer: US still in ‘armed conflict’ in Afghanistan



The U.S. is still in an armed conflict in Afghanistan, despite the U.S. ending its combat mission in Afghanistan in December, said the Pentagon’s top lawyer on Friday.



“There is no doubt that we remain in a state of armed conflict against the Taliban, al-Qa’ida and associated forces as a matter of international law,” Pentagon general counsel Stephen Preston said during a rare address at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law.



“Although our presence in that country has been reduced and our mission there is more limited, the fact is that active hostilities continue,” Preston said.



WNU Editor: No kidding.