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December 9, 2014

U.S. to Keep Additional 1,000 Troops in Afghanistan in Early 2015 
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The United States will keep an additional 1,000 troops in Afghanistan on
top of the nearly 10,000 already committed to remain beyond this year.
Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced the move during a visit
to Afghanistan.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: "President Obama has provided U.S.
military commanders the flexibility, the flexibility to manage any
temporary force shortfalls that we might experience for a few months as
we allow for coalition troops to arrive in theater. This will mean a
delayed withdrawal of up to 1,000 U.S. troops, so that up to 10,800
troops, rather than 9,800, could remain in Afghanistan through the end
of this year and for the first few months next year. But the president's
authorization will not change; it will not change our troop's missions
or the long-term timeline for our withdrawal."

Hagel says the change is temporary and will not change the long-term
timeline for withdrawing troops. The announcement comes amidst a surge
in Taliban attacks over the past several months.

 

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