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U.S. to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by 9/11/2021

by Lolita C. Baldor and Ellen Knickmeyr An intelligence community report issued April
Associated Press 13 about global challenges for the next year said
prospects for a peace deal in Afghanistan are
President Joe Biden will withdraw all troops “low” and warned that “the Taliban is likely to
from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniver- make gains on the battlefield. If the coalition
sary of the terrorist attacks on America that were withdraws support, the report says, the Afghan
coordinated from that country, U.S. officials said government will struggle to control the Taliban.
April 13. In a February 2020 agreement with the admin-
The decision defies a May 1 deadline for full istration of President Donald Trump, the Taliban
withdrawal under a peace agreement the Trump agreed to halt attacks and hold peace talks with
administration reached with the Taliban last year. the Afghan government, in exchange for a U.S.
But Biden has been hinting for weeks that he was commitment to a complete withdrawal by May
going to let the deadline lapse, and as the days 2021.
went by it became clear that an orderly withdraw- Over the past year, U.S. military commanders
al of the remaining 2,500 troops would be difficult and defense officials have said that attacks on
and was unlikely. A senior administration official U.S. troops have largely paused, but they say the
said the drawdown would begin May 1. Taliban have increased attacks on the Afghans.
Biden’s choice of the 9/11 date underscores Commanders have argued that the Taliban have
the reason that American troops were in Af- failed to meet the conditions of the peace agree-
ghanistan to begin with — to prevent extremist ment by continuing attacks on the Afghans and
groups like al Qaeda from establishing a foot- failing to totally cut ties with al Qaeda and other
hold again that could be used to launch attacks extremist groups.
against the U.S. When Biden entered the White House in Janu-
The president decided that the deadline for Army photograph by Spec. Christopher Bouchard ary, he was keenly aware of the looming dead-
withdrawal of U.S. forces had to be absolute, rath- Raider Brigade soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat line and had time to meet it if he had chosen to
er than provisional on conditions inside Afghani- Team, 4th Infantry Division, provide security near their armored vehicle in Afghanistan, September 21, do so. He began a review of the February 2020
stan as the deadline neared, the senior administra- 2018. Soldiers often provide security as coalition partners advise and train the Afghan National Army. agreement shortly after taking office, and has been
tion official said. “We’re committing today to go- consulting at length with his defense and military
ing to zero” U.S. forces by Sept. 11, and possibly advisers as well as allies.
well before, the official said, adding that Biden According to the administration official, the dination with NATO allies, the administration In recent weeks, it became increasingly clear
concluded that a conditioned withdrawal would only U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan will official added. that he was leaning toward defying the deadline.
be “a recipe for staying in Afghanistan forever.” be those deemed necessary to protect diplomats Biden’s decision risks retaliation by the Taliban “It’s going to be hard to meet the May 1 dead-
U.S. officials provided details on Biden’s deci- in the country. An exact number had yet to be on U.S. and Afghan forces, possibly escalating the line,” Biden said in late March. “Just in terms of
sion on condition of anonymity, speaking ahead decided. 20-year war. And it will reignite political division tactical reasons, it’s hard to get those troops out.”
of the announcement. It was first reported by The The extended timeline will allow a safe and over America’s involvement in what many have Tellingly, he added, “And if we leave, we’re going
Washington Post. orderly withdrawal of American troops in coor- called the endless war. to do so in a safe and orderly way.”

United States to add 500 troops in Germany

by Jim Garamone Austin said at a joint news confer- the secretary said. It is part and parcel space and cyber domains, and provide pandemic and combating the malign
DOD News ence with Kramp-Karrenbauer that the of the administration’s effort to revi- more electronic warfare capabilities in influence of their shared strategic ri-
extra 500 U.S. troops will be stationed talize the series of American alliances Europe. They will “greatly improve vals.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. permanently in Germany’s Wiesbaden worldwide. NATO is the crown jewel our ability to surge forces at a mo- Kramp-Karrenbauer said Germany
Austin III announced April 13 that, area as early as this fall. of the alliance system. ment’s notice to defend our allies,” will send a frigate to the Indo-Pacific
after consultations with German De- “It is great news that not only has “Strengthening our relationship he said. that also champions freedom of navi-
fense Minister Annegret Kramp-Kar- the withdrawal of troops ... from Ger- with Germany is a top priority for the Austin briefed Kramp-Karrenbau- gation.
renbauer, the United States will base many been halted, but, quite the con- Biden-Harris administration,” Austin er on the global U.S. force posture Germany is the first European na-
an additional 500 service members in trary; we will be able to welcome an said. “Underscoring our strong com- review, and the two also discussed tion Austin is visiting in his current
Germany by the fall. additional 500 U.S. troops,” Kramp- mitment to allies and partners is at the Afghanistan. The German minister job. “The visit was important to our
“This planned increase in U.S. per- Karrenbauer said. “This is a very forefront of my agenda, this includes reiterated that NATO went into Af- country because as you heard Presi-
sonnel underscores our commitment strong signal of our partnership and advancing our transatlantic partner- ghanistan together and will leave to- dent Biden say very early on that …
to Germany and the entire NATO al- friendship.” ship, and increasing cooperation with gether. The two also discussed areas we treasure our alliances,” he said.
liance,” Austin said in his remarks to Russia’s actions in Georgia, its our NATO allies,” he said. where the United States and Germany “That’s how we operate, and we al-
Germany’s Ministry of Defense. illegal annexation of Crimea from The 500 new U.S. troops will aug- can strengthen cooperation on global ways operate better as a part of a team,
The increase reverses the policy Ukraine, the continued harassment of ment existing capabilities, help in the challenges, such as the COVID-19 and NATO is a great team”
of the previous administration, Ukraine and other bordering nations, Soldiers participate in a
which looked to drastically reduce its military build-up, and its increas- live-fire exercise at the
the number of U.S. forces based ing use of cyberattacks are concerns in Grafenwoehr Training
in Germany. President Joe Biden Europe. Germany is no exception; as Area, Germany, March 23,
announced a policy to freeze that the economic powerhouse of the con- 2021. U.S. Secretary of
process, which included moving the tinent, Germany is key to responding Defense Lloyd J. Austin
headquarters for the Stuttgart-based to these provocations. III announced April 13
U.S. European Command and U.S. “Germany is one of our staunchest that, after consultations
Africa Command. The president allies, and our relationship is built on with German Defense
Minister Annegret Kramp-
ordered a global posture review to shared values of freedom, democracy, Karrenbauer, the United
determine how to best station U.S. human rights, and the rule of law,” States will base an
forces around the world. Austin said. “Today, those principles additional 500 service
Asked by a reporter whether the are increasingly under duress. Amid members in Germany by
decision to add 500 troops means shifting global dynamics and a chal- the fall.
Washington will not carry out Trump’s lenging security environment, Ger-
move, Austin said the Pentagon has many will continue to be an important
“ceased planning” for troop reduc- security and economic partner for the
tions. United States in the years ahead.”
The German minister said she had The secretary’s visit to Germany is
Biden’s word that “there will be no an indication of the value the Biden-
troop reduction as was previously Harris administration places on the
planned.” relationship, officials traveling with Army photograph by Markus Rauchenberger

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