The US Provincial Reconstruction Team led by Air Force Lt. Col. Gordon Phillips in the Nangahar province of Afghanistan has made “significant progress” in its first four months on the job. Army Sgt. Sara Wood reports that the PRT has completed 11 projects worth about $800,000, and perhaps the key accomplishment is completion of a month-long effort to finalize a provincial development plan. On the PRT’s agenda are 33 projects, including building roads to link all 22 districts in the province to the main route through the region.
Back from a Thanksgiving week recess, the push to pass the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act hit another snag Nov. 29, as the Senate voted against ending debate on its version of the bill. At the same time, Congress is staring down a Dec. 3 expiration date for its continuing…