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U.S. NEWS A3
Friday 16 October 2015
Obama Extends US Military
Mission in Afghanistan
JULIE PACE The president had originally White House press secretary Josh Earnest speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in
AP White House Correspon- planned to withdraw all Washington, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. Earnest answered questions about President Barack Obama’s
dent but a small embassy-based decision to leave more troops in Afghanistan.
WASHINGTON (AP) — When force from Afghanistan in
President Barack Obama late 2016, shortly before (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
leaves office in 15 months, leaving office. Under the
he’ll hand his successor new $15 billion-a-year plan, and allowing there to be rity and national security.” vowed to remove U.S.
military conflicts in the two the U.S. will maintain its cur- safe havens for terrorists is Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul troops from Afghanistan
countries where he prom- rent force of 9,800 through not the right way to protect was an outlier among Re- immediately if elected
ised to end prolonged war: most of 2016, then begin American homeland secu- publican candidates. He president.q
Afghanistan and Iraq. drawing down to 5,500 late
There will be far fewer in the year or in early 2017.
troops in each, and the Obama’s decision thrusts
American forces won’t the war into the middle of a
have a direct combat role. presidential campaign that
But for Obama, it’s never- so far has barely touched
theless a frustrating end to on Afghanistan. Candi-
a quest that was central to dates now will be pressed
his political rise. to say how they will try to
“As you are all well aware, do what Obama could
I do not support the idea of not — end a conflict that
endless war,” Obama said has killed more than 2,230
Thursday as he announced American service mem-
he was dropping plans to bers and cost more than $1
withdraw nearly all U.S. trillion.
forces from Afghanistan On Thursday, leading
by the end of next year. Democratic candidates
Instead, he’ll leave office — including Hillary Rod-
with at least 5,500 on the ham Clinton, who served
ground to help protect as Obama’s secretary of
gains made during 14 years state — were silent about
of war. the president’s decision.
As a result, the winner of Last year, after Obama
the 2016 presidential elec- announced his original
tion will become the third 2016 withdrawal timeline,
American commander in Clinton said she would be
chief to oversee the Af- open to extending the U.S.
ghan war. presence if Afghan leaders
The president’s goal of made that request.
ending the wars he inher- The president’s revamped
ited had already been tar- plan was welcomed by
nished by the return of U.S. several Republican presi-
forces to Iraq last year, 2½ dential candidates, but
years after they left. The some said 5,500 troops
troops are there to help would not be enough.
Iraq fight the Islamic State, “If he is truly committed to
a mission Obama has said fighting terrorism and se-
will likely outlast his presi- curing a stable Afghani-
dency. stan, he shouldn’t short-
Obama never mentioned change what our military
Iraq Thursday, but the tenu- commanders have said
ous situation there has no they need to complete the
doubt hung over his deci- mission,” said Jeb Bush. The
sion-making on Afghani- former Florida governor did
stan. Obama’s critics con- not say how many troops
tend the decision to with- he thought would be suf-
draw from Iraq created the ficient. According to a de-
vacuum that allowed the fense official, the president
Islamic State to thrive and approved the highest num-
warned leaving Afghani- ber requested by com-
stan next year could have manders, with the greatest
the same consequences. amount of flexibility.
Military commanders have Former technology execu-
argued for months that Af- tive Carly Fiorina called
ghans needed additional Obama’s decision a “rec-
assistance and support ognition of reality” in Af-
from the U.S. to beat back ghanistan. And New Jersey
a resurgent Taliban and Gov. Chris Christie said the
keep the Islamic State from president was “waking up
using the country as a ha- to the fact that disengag-
ven. ing America from the world
