Petraeus: Combat Force Reductions Very Likely

Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said last week it’s “very likely” that combat forces will be among those units that he allows to return home starting this summer. Speaking at a National Journal/Newseum event in Washington, D.C., Petraeus said he is still drawing up options on which troops may withdraw from Afghanistan once the planned drawdown of forces beings in July. The plan probably will call for most of those going home to come from support functions, he noted. A “small group” at ISAF headquarters is developing the plan, he said during the March 18 event.