Honoring the Fallen

HONORING THE FALLEN

In the last 4 days, 4 American soldiers died fighting in Afghanistan – making this year the deadliest for America since combat missions officially ended in 2014.

What’s Going On

What Happened:

• Tuesday: A roadside bomb killed 3 American soldiers; injured several others. Taliban claimed responsibility.
• Saturday: Army Ranger Sgt. Leandro Jasso dies on mission fighting al Qaeda. The military says he was killed accidentally by an Afghan soldier he was fighting alongside in close quarters. The incident is being investigated.

BIG PICTURE

• Coalition combat missions (U.S. & NATO) ended in 2014, but approx. 15,000 U.S. soldiers remain in Afghanistan supporting and training Afghan troops.
• The Trump administration has allowed the military to operate more freely to target terrorists, but also reportedly wants to negotiate a “peace deal” with the Taliban.

Something To Consider:

The Taliban now control more of Afghanistan than any other time during America’s longest war; al Qaeda remains a close ally of the Taliban.

“Al Qaeda remains a threat. Its operatives are fighting in more countries around the world today than was the case on 9/11.”



Tom Josceyln, The Long War Journal

‘It is heart wrenching. Lando was an incredibly charismatic human beinga| and it’s hard to imagine someone like that gone. It’s like you feel a hole open inside of you that you didn’t even know was there… Andrea Brixey who taught Sgt. Jasso in middle school.