Obama Announces Afghan Troop Withdrawal Plan

Published May 27, 2014 at 2:35 PM CDT

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President Barack Obama speaks about troop pullout from Afghanistan at the White House on May 27. The administration's plan is to keep a contingency force of 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, consolidating them in Kabul and on Bagram Air Base. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A day ahead of a big foreign policy speech at West Point tomorrow, President Obama is making public his plan to pull troops out of Afghanistan.

Obama is largely taking the recommendation of his generals and plans to leave 9,800 troops in Afghanistan for one year beyond the withdrawal of combat forces in December. By the end of 2015, that number will be halved with troops consolidated in the Kabul area, and their primary mission will not be combat but counter-terrorism.

By the end of 2016 fewer than 1000 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan, largely to staff a security office in Kabul.

NPR’s Scott Horsley joins Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson to discuss the president’s plan.

Guest

Scott Horsley, NPR White House correspondent.