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Acting US Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announces the implementation of President Trump’s orders to relocate and reduce US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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US Secretary of Defense: We will end these wars and restore our forces for years to come
Acting US Defense Secretary Christopher Miller has officially announced the implementation of President Donald Trump’s orders to reposition US forces and reduce them in Afghanistan to 2,500, and in Iraq to 2,500 by January 15.
During a press conference, Miller said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani “spoke about the capabilities of our forces in terms of type and not number, and I say that the United States is committed to protecting our allies and partners in the world.” and added that “we continue to finish the mission that we started some two decades ago in Afghanistan and Iraq.” And that war that lasted several generations. “
Miller stressed that “we will end these wars and restore our forces in the years to come,” adding that “the military is committed to protecting the American people and supporting our allies.”
The US national security adviser said Trump hopes to return all US forces from Afghanistan and Iraq by May.
And the US media said that the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan had popular support of about 76%, while the NATO secretary general considered that any NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan would come at a high price.
The leader of the Republican majority in the US Senate, Mitch McConnell, said that “the transition of the administration will be regular.”
McConnell added: “The large reduction in the number of US forces in Afghanistan or Iraq would be a mistake,” noting that “it is very important during the next two months not to make major changes in terms of defense or policy.”
McConnell also warned today that President Trump’s plan to accelerate the withdrawal of his country’s forces from Afghanistan and Iraq would project an image as a symbol of humiliation and defeat for Americans and victory for ISIS and Al Qaeda.
This came after CNN reported that US military leaders were waiting for an order this week from Trump to withdraw more US forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.
And CNN sources said yesterday, Monday, that the United States Department of Defense issued a notice to begin planning to reduce the number of troops to 2,500 personnel in both Iraq and Afghanistan, before Trump leaves office on 20 December. January, in a step that, if it occurs, will mean that the United States will maintain a military battalion in each of these countries, with a force of about 2,500 soldiers.
The US Department of Defense did not confirm the authenticity of these media reports, which indicated that Trump himself could announce this decision this week.
Informed sources told CNN that “the cleanup campaign carried out by the White House against the Defense Ministry may have been motivated by the fact that former Defense Secretary Mark Esper and his team were obstructing an early withdrawal from Afghanistan that was it would be carried out before the required conditions on the ground were met. ” .
And US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had emphasized, before Trump fired him a week ago, the need for at least 4,500 US troops to remain in Afghanistan until the Taliban on the ground show they have slowed down. of violence.
Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government are taking place in accordance with a historic agreement signed by Washington with the movement, which provides for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in mid-2021.
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