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US Out of Afghanistan by Christmas? No, That's Just Presidential 'Desire'

Carla Babb

   President Donald Trump's national security adviser says a presidential
   tweet last week that all U.S. troops should be home from Afghanistan by
   December 25 was a "desire" rather than a military order, and he
   reaffirmed a plan to decrease U.S. numbers to 2,500 -- not zero -- by
   early 2021.

   "There would be nothing greater than to have our troops home by
   Christmas, but right now we're on a path with our European allies -- we
   went into Afghanistan together; we're going to come out together --
   we're on a path right now that looks like about 4,500 this fall and a
   smaller number in January and February," national security adviser
   Robert O'Brien said Friday in a webinar hosted by the Aspen Institute,
   a nonprofit group that promotes creation of free and equitable
   societies through seminars and leadership development programs.

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