Obama to announce return of 30,000 troops from Afghanistan by end of next year

CBS News ^ | June 22, 2011 | Corbett B. Daly

[americanophile]

President Obama's "surge" of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan announced in late 2009 was meant to be temporary, and Wednesday night the president is expected to announce that they will return home by around the time voters head to the polls to determine whether he gets another term.

In prime-time speech to the nation, Obama is expected to say about 5,000 troops will begin coming home this summer with an additional 5,000 troops by the end of this year, sources told CBS News. And about 20,000 more troops are expected to return to the United States by the end of 2012, the sources said. That would still leave about 70,000 troops in Afghanistan -- about twice as many troops as when Obama took office in January 2009.

That timetable is more aggressive than some military advisers had urged. Obama made the final decision Tuesday after weighing options presented to him by General David Petraeus, his top commander in Afghanistan.

Some military advisers feared a rapid withdrawal could put at risk some of the gains made against the Taliban.

[Shqipo]

First he sends fewer troops than asked, then he pulls more than recommended. It shows a half-assed attempt to win the war he labeled “justified” and little stomach to see it through. I wish GWB and Rummy had stated the obvious from the start: Iraq is winnable and of national interest; Afghanistan is not. They went about it this way, but just never came out and stated the Afghanis are too backward, disinterested, and it is too vast a wasteland to ever modernize and turn into a functional democracy.

[TheDailyChange]

Obama’s A!! is sucking wind and anyone with an IQ over 60 knows it.

[Rapscallion]

He so wants to be praised by Americans. Instead he is a chump, a union tool, and a laughing stock among real world leaders.

[upcountryhorseman]

All well and good: the bad guys will wait until we are
out of there and return to their old ways!

[Niuhuru]

I think you’re more than right. Back in 2008, the economy was slow, but chugging along just fine; now it’s different, a lot of people talk on here talk about “idiots in front of televisions,” but at this juncture, few people have homes, much less televisions. Many are out on the streets or in “Obamavilles” where they are going out of their minds and many came from comfortable homes and jobs. In 2008, a lot of people thought they could afford to make a mistake, but now they know that their stupidity cost them everything and they will have to rebuild. Obama will likely have a campaign, but he’s mainly mixing with the rich celebrities, not the people who voted him in. If I were him, I would be afraid of their questions.

[HollyB]

Karl Rove was just on Fox saying about the same thing. But, you know what gets me? How in the middle of all this, the administration now wants another stimulus. No one can be that stupid, nobody! And the end result of this spending is throwing this country over the edge. I suppose the outcome will be an even playing field with countries who are in serious poverty. If that is appealing to certain voters, than I suppose they enjoy being oppressed with poverty.

[rlferny]

One of my sons just got back from there in April, one is still there and one ships in July. With this guy in charge, things have fallen apart over there unbelievably.

[Gator113]

I wish you and your brave sons the best.

[rlferny]

Same to your son-in-law. Can only pray for their safety. I know so many kids being sent over there, it’s hard for me to believe there is a draw down of any kind.

[NFHale]

Look at it this way...it’s 30,000 more votes against Obama.

[TheGunny]

Think bigger picture! May God protect your nephew...and the rest of our force!