U.S. provides options for drawdown of forces in Afghanistan amid ISIS fears
While the United States has close to 10,000 U.S. troops currently in Afghanistan following the end of combat operations at the beginning of the year, the Obama administration has already announced plans to draw that number down to 5,500 by the end of this year.
READ: Afghan president asks Obama to 're-examine' troop commitments
Gen. John Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday his recommendations deal with both the "glide slope" and "locations" for where to make withdrawals as the summer fighting season in Afghanistan gets underway.
"I have provided options on adjusting our force posture through my chain of command," Campbell said, adding that he "absolutely" favored the options without elaborating on their specificity.
"I think I provide some options both for [Afghan President Ashraf] Ghani and for my senior leadership here to take a look at what would allow us the flexibility to continue to get after the [Train, Advise and Assist] mission and the [Counterterrorism] mission" in Afghanistan, he said.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday the Obama administration is considering a slow-down in its planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.
There are currently 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and an additional 3,000 from other NATO partner nations.
Campbell told the committee he was "concerned" about the coming summer season, when fighting with the Taliban typically reaches its highest levels, because it will be the first fighting season for Afghan forces on their own without the assistance of coalition assistance.
"We're doing everything right now in the winter campaign to get them ready to do that," he said, in reference to the ongoing training and advising mission.
Many Republican leaders on Capitol Hill have voiced their concern over both the pace, and specific time frame, laid out by the Obama administration for the additional drawdown of U.S. troops. Some are drawing parallels to the quick removal of U.S. forces in Iraq at the end of 2011, and the deteriorating condition that followed.
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U.S. provides options for drawdown of forces in Afghanistan amid ISIS fears
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