US Troops’ Exit from Afghanistan May Be Rapid
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U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dexter S. Saulisbury/Released(WASHINGTON) — Initially, 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. Now, an administration official says that number will not exceed 10,000 and could even be zero.
That will likely mean between 3,000 to 6,000 troops will remain in Afghanistan.
What Americans will see in the coming months is how fast the drawdown occurs. The U.S. has around 66,000 troops there right now. President Obama would like to reduce that number fairly quickly over the next few years while still ensuring that there is not a sudden departure of all the troops.
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