Washington – President Barack Obama ordered the withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Afghanistan this year, leaving the bulk of U.S. surge forces in place into the summer of 2012, but also signaling the beginning of the end of America’s role in the 10-year war.
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“We are starting this drawdown from a position of strength. Al Qaeda is under more pressure than at any time since 9/11,” Mr. Obama said in a 13-minute speech from the White House Wednesday evening. “Challenges remain. This is the beginning — but not the end — of our effort to wind down this war.”
Up to 5,000 troops will begin leaving next month. A second wave of about 5,000 troops would be withdrawn by year’s end, officials said. All of the remaining 33,000 surge forces that began arriving in January 2010 would depart by August and September 2012.
The decision marks Mr. Obama’s effort to balance the demands of antiwar Democrats and budget-conscious Republicans on one hand, and the advice of his military commanders on the other.
In the end, the president opted for a path that gave neither side as much as it wanted: The military will see its combat strength in the field diminish a couple of months sooner than it had wanted, while war critics will see a slower drawdown than they had hoped.
Thank you Mr Obama for running away with your tail between your legs. You have proven to us that you have no backbone. You have emboldened us by your actions.
It seems to me that President Obama has seen the light and decided to cut his losses by getting out of what is an unwinnable war. The British learned that in the 19th century and the Russians found that out the hard way in the 20th century.
So at the end of all that he promises, there will still be twice as many troops in Afghanistan as when he took office.
If I voted for him I’d be so happy that he’s keeping to his campaign promises.