WHITE HOUSE—For an American president who came into office with a promise to end U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the announcement to slow the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan was likely not an easy one.
"I do not support the idea of endless war," President Barack Obama said. "I repeatedly argued against marching into open-ended military conflicts that do not serve our core security interests."
Flanked by Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Vice President Joe Biden and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford, Obama announced Thursday he will maintain the current number of American troops in Afghanistan at 9,800 through most of 2016, before trimming that number to 5,500 by the time he leaves office in January 2017.
'Months of continued talks'
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the decision Thursday, saying in a statement that it followed “several months of continued talks between the two presidents.”
Ghani added that the decision “once again shows renewal of the partnership and strengthening of relations of the United States with Afghanistan on the basis of common interests and risks.”
"The combat mission has ended,” Carter explained. “The mission now on a day-to-day basis is train, advise and assist, and counter terrorism."
Carter said the U.S. is intent on fostering stability in Afghanistan over the long term and will not give up gains that U.S. forces have fought so hard to achieve in that country. He said America's national security remains very much at stake in Afghanistan.
【国际英语资讯:Obama Slows US Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan】相关文章:
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