ABC
U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan could be more rapid than thought
At first the military hoped there might be as many as 20,000 U.S. troops left behind after combat operations in Afghanistan officially cease at the end of 2014. But now an administration official is saying that number will not exceed 10,000 and could be even be zero.
That will likely mean between 3,000 to 6,000 troops. But remember Iraq, where everyone was predicting a sizable presence, and that was cut to nothing on the military side–outside of the embassy.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Yeah. Gotta rotate these kids back home from protecting our vital overseas interests from crazies with guns. They’re more badly needed to portect the government from law abiding citizens with guns.
apostic on January 7, 2013 at 2:00 PM
We also need to stop sending money over there.
RoadRunner on January 7, 2013 at 2:14 PM
I’ve heard that withdrawal is not a very effective method.
theblackcommenter on January 7, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Food for thought: much of it ends up being used against Israel. And since you guys like Israel so friggin’ much, there’s your incentive to quite spending so much as a dollar in that wretched region.
MelonCollie on January 7, 2013 at 2:29 PM
quite = quit. **** autocorrect.
MelonCollie on January 7, 2013 at 2:30 PM
We haven’t done anything effective since we steamrolled their standing forces, skippy, which nothing short of divine intervention could have stopped in the first place.
It is not physically possible for us to remain there indefinitely.
MelonCollie on January 7, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Jihad in America: The Grand Deception.
SWalker on January 7, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Do you think Obama will be able to kick his Drone jones anytime soon — or will that remain a permanent feature and part of his daily ESPN/Golf/Drone recreation?
ShainS on January 7, 2013 at 2:59 PM
I wouldn’t put it past him to do occasional drone strikes like Clintoon bombed aspirin factories just to look tough. But other than that, reality is going to drag us kicking and screaming out of the Middle East.
MelonCollie on January 7, 2013 at 3:15 PM