Obama, in Afghanistan, says he will make troop announcement soon
May 26, 2014
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama, on a visit to Afghanistan, said on Sunday his administration would likely announce soon how many troops the United States will keep in the country, as it winds down its presence after nearly 13 years of war.
Speaking at a briefing by military commanders at Bagram Air Base, Obama said one reason for his trip was to discuss the U.S. footprint for the rest of this year – when the bulk of troops are scheduled to be withdrawn – and afterward. “We’ll probably be announcing some decisions fairly shortly,” said Obama, who flew into the main U.S. base in Afghanistan for a brief, surprise visit.