{"id":85314,"date":"2018-03-20T02:56:43","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T02:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/20\/joint-chiefs-chairman-visits-afghanistan-to-review-us-military-campaign\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:31:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:31:41","slug":"joint-chiefs-chairman-visits-afghanistan-to-review-us-military-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/03\/20\/joint-chiefs-chairman-visits-afghanistan-to-review-us-military-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Chiefs chairman visits Afghanistan to review US military campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan \u2014 The top U.S. military officer visited Afghanistan on Monday to evaluate the military campaign and ensure new American advisory teams and an upgraded Afghan Air Force are on target as the next fighting season with the Taliban looms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he wants to understand the goals for the coming months so the U.S.-led coalition can develop ways to measure progress in the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dunford told reporters traveling with him that he seeks \u201ca discussion about measures of effectiveness.\u201d A key question, Dunford said, is how the U.S. will know that it\u2019s where it needs to be in implementing what is, in actuality, the Afghans\u2019 plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of benchmarks for progress in the Afghan war has been simmering for several months as the Pentagon looks to end America\u2019s longest war. Measuring success will be a key part of White House discussions this summer when President Donald Trump looks for a one-year assessment of his new regional strategy. Last August, a reluctant Trump had to be persuaded to inject new U.S. troops to the conflict, which is now in its 17th year.<\/p>\n\n\n\t