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US President Donald Trump will drastically reduce the number of US forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 before leaving office, the Pentagon announced, without reaching the full withdrawal he threatened to carry out before Christmas.
President Trump’s decision to limit himself to a partial withdrawal was first reported yesterday and has prompted warnings from critics who say it will undermine security and damage fragile peace talks with the Taliban.
Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, whom President Trump appointed last week after firing Mark Esper, confirmed the reduction and also described a modest withdrawal of forces in Iraq that will reduce troop levels there from 3,000 to 2,500.
“By January 15, 2021, our forces, their size in Afghanistan, will be 2,500 soldiers. The size of our forces in Iraq will also be 2,500 by that same date,” Miller said, without answering questions from reporters.
“This is consistent with our stated strategic plans and goals, supported by the American people, and does not amount to a change in American policy or goals.”
Moments later, the top Senate Republican, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, warned against any major changes in US foreign or defense policy in the coming months, including troop reductions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
US and Afghan officials warn of troubling levels of violence by Taliban insurgents and the Taliban’s persistent ties to al-Qaeda.
It was these ties that triggered US military intervention in 2001 following the 9/11 al-Qaeda attacks on the US. Thousands of American and allied soldiers have died in fighting in Afghanistan since then.
Some US military officials had been urging President Trump to keep US troop levels at around 4,500 for now.
The pullout falls short of the president’s promise on Oct. 7, when he said on Twitter that the United States should have the remaining number of troops home by Christmas.
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