Big decision by Trump. US commanders told Mattis that they want to at least double current 8,500 US Troops in Afghanistan and more reinforcements from NATO which has troops operating there as well. Taliban, Al Quaeda, and ISIS increasing activity with the Taliban the major threat. Russia is Providing support to the Taliban and Mattis says he is aware of Russian threat). The problem with the Middle East is problems do not go away, the come back in another form or with new leaders. On Mattis trip, commanders asked for more troops for Yemen, Somali, Djibouti, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Syria will be a huge problem if ISIS is forced out and Assad is defeated by rebels. There will be fight for control with intervention from Iran and Russia-- what will we do?