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US Cutting Troop Numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq by January

Carla Babb

   The Pentagon is making plans to bring home more American troops in the
   coming weeks, leaving 2,500 troops in Afghanistan and 2,500 troops in
   Iraq by mid-January, a U.S. official has confirmed to VOA.

   The drawdown, which would remove about 2,000 troops currently in
   Afghanistan and 500 now in Iraq, is similar to a plan laid out by
   National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien in October, which the Pentagon
   would not confirm at the time.

   News of the potential'¯military'¯changes began circulating Monday and
   brought swift criticism from experts, former officials and even some of
   President Donald Trump's biggest allies, including Senate Majority
   Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.'¯

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