His first military move as president was to put additional troops in Afghanistan, now Barack Obama is pledging that 33,000 out of the approximately 100,000 troops that are there will be withdrawn.
The Huffington Post reported this:
"Fewer of our sons and daughters are serving in harm’s way," Obama added. "We have ended our combat mission in Iraq, with 100,000 American troops already out of that country. And even as there will be dark days ahead in Afghanistan, the light of a secure peace can be seen in the distance. These long wars will come to a responsible end."
So far this is how it is going to happen: 5,000 troops will be immediately withdrawn, then an addition 5,00 at the end of 2011, the other 23,000 will be removed by autumn of 2012. This will leave about 68,000 troops in Afghanistan as we continue to work of the transition of having elected the Afghan leaders completely take control of their nation.
Many of our top politicians feel that this is a political move as the campaign for the White House in 2012 is dawning. Let's see how the withdrawal of the 33,000 which are president has committed to already as well rest of the troops that will remain is handled; and what effects it will have on our nation from the 2012 elections, foreign relations, and economy.
