Overnight Defense: McCain rips Trump on Afghanistan | Pressure builds for Afghan strategy | Poll finds military families back transgender troops

THE TOPLINE: Pressure is growing on President Trump to settle on a strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

Administration officials have been embroiled in a heated debate for months about what the strategy for the war should be, with Trump reportedly frustrated to the point that he raised the idea of firing the officer in charge of U.S. forces there, Gen. John Nicholson.

The dramatic suggestion underscores the sense that Trump is looking for a way to resolve the nation’s longest war, but has only heightened the frustration of those in Washington who want the president to make a decision.

Check back at TheHill.com tomorrow for the full story…

MCCAIN HITS TRUMP ON AFGHANISTAN: Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) ripped Trump on Thursday for the delay in picking a strategy and the reported comments on Gen. Nicholson.

{mosads}

Rather than Nicholson, McCain blamed Trump for the failures in Afghanistan.

“Six months ago, General Nicholson testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee and warned that the United States was not winning the war in Afghanistan,” McCain said in a statement. “The reason for this failure is a lack of successful policy and strategic guidance from Washington over many years, which has continued in the first several months of this new administration. Our commanders-in-chief, not our commanders in the field, are responsible for this failure.”

McCain also blasted past administrations, including that of former President Barack Obama.

The comments on Afghanistan came less than a week after McCain bucked his party and Trump to vote against an ObamaCare repeal bill.

Read more of McCain’s comments here.

STATE APPROVES NIGERIA ARMS SALE: The State Department has approved a possible sale to Nigeria of 12 high-tech attack planes and related equipment worth nearly $600 million, the Pentagon said Thursday.

“These aircraft will support Nigerian military operations against terrorist organizations Boko Haram and [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria] West Africa, and Nigerian efforts to counter illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice published Thursday. “Nigeria is an important partner in the U.S. national security goal to defeat ISIS, including its branches in Africa, and this sale is part of the U.S. commitment to help Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin countries in that fight.”

The Trump administration’s approval of the sale, which was rumored months ago, comes after the Obama administration put a hold on it amid accusations that Nigeria’s air force was bombing civilians.

Read more about the sale here.

POLL: MILITARY HOUSEHOLDS SUPPORT TRANSGENDER TROOPS: A majority of voters in military households think transgender people should be allowed to serve in the military, according to a new survey.

A Quinnipiac University poll found 55 percent of voters in military households believe transgender people should be allowed to serve.

Thirty-nine percent of voters in military household disagree.

The poll follows President Trump’s announced ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.

The Hill’s Rebecca Savransky has more here.

ICYMI:

— The Hill: Senate panel approves bill to cut off funds to Palestinians over terrorism

— The Hill: Trump: ‘Thank Congress’ for ‘all-time’ low in US-Russia ties

— Military Times: New tools let vets schedule appointments, meet with doctors through their phones

— Associated Press: Jordan court upholds life term for killing of 3 US troops

— Associated Press: Military scrambles for transgender policy after Trump tweets

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