***To read the full blog, please check out the complete post on NewsBusters***
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis made a visit to Afghanistan Monday, where he and General John Nicholson stated that a top U.S. adversary was backing the Taliban. “9,000 U.S. troops are on the ground trying to help the Afghan army hold back a resurgent Taliban,” announced Anchor Scott Pelley during CBS Evening News, “But the job is getting tougher by the day thanks in part to Moscow.” The revelation was chilling considering U.S. troop could be coming up against those weapons, and it went unreported on ABC and NBC that evening.
“U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Kabul today as the country descended further into chaos,” reported Charlie D’Agata. “Worsening the situation, new allegations the Russians are supplying the Taliban with weapons.”
In a news briefing, Secretary Mattis told the press that “We'll engage with Russia diplomatically…We’ll do so where we can, but we're going to have to confront Russia where what they're doing is contrary to international law.” Mattis wouldn’t touch on specifics, but top U.S. General in Afghanistan John Nicholson was a little more upfront when asked:
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So to be clear, you’re not refuting that they are sending weapons to the Taliban?
JOHN NICHOLSON: Oh, no, I'm not refuting that.
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