Key lawmaker hunts paper trail of Pentagon and State Department resistance to Afghanistan troop cuts

Defense News: mid reports that ousted Defense Secretary Mark Esper raised concerns about U.S. troop cuts in Afghanistan in a classified memo to the White House, a Democratic-led oversight panel has asked the Trump administration to turn over all internal documents relevant to the pullout decision.

Democrats are apparently seeking the paper trail behind military and civilian officials who advised President Donald Trump against an accelerated withdrawal and said the Taliban had not met pledges to reduce violence. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., was among lawmakers who have expressed fears the pullout might leave Afghanistan a haven for terrorists who want to attack the U.S. and its allies.

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