Obama outlines plan to keep 5,500 troops in Afghanistan
- 9 years ago
President Obama said he will keep 5,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan into 2017, ending his ambitions to bring home most American forces from that war-torn country before he leaves office.
The president said his decision came after an extensive months-long review that included regular discussions with Afghanistan's leaders, his national security team and U.S. commanders in the field.
The revised troop plans amount to an admission that Afghan Army and police forces aren't up to the task of protecting the country without help, and came just weeks after the Afghan forces were driven from Kunduz, the first major city to fall to the Taliban since the war began in 2001.
"It's very positive in light of the continued problems that this region is facing," said Mohammad Daud Sultanzoy, a presidential candidate in 2014, who is now allied with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
The president said his decision came after an extensive months-long review that included regular discussions with Afghanistan's leaders, his national security team and U.S. commanders in the field.
The revised troop plans amount to an admission that Afghan Army and police forces aren't up to the task of protecting the country without help, and came just weeks after the Afghan forces were driven from Kunduz, the first major city to fall to the Taliban since the war began in 2001.
"It's very positive in light of the continued problems that this region is facing," said Mohammad Daud Sultanzoy, a presidential candidate in 2014, who is now allied with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.