The United States next month will begin withdrawing the first of 10,000 troops that will leave Afghanistan by year’s end and 33,000 in total that will come home from there by mid 2012, President Obama told the nation Wednesday evening in an address from the White House. This withdrawal will reduce US troop levels there by roughly a third, reversing the troop surge that Obama directed in December 2009 to refocus efforts against Al Qaeda and counter Taliban momentum. “Thanks to our extraordinary men and women in uniform, our civilian personnel, and our many coalition partners, we are meeting our goals,” stated Obama, allowing him to fulfill his commitment to begin the withdrawal in July. Obama said after this initial reduction, US troops “will continue coming home at a steady pace” as Afghan security forces move into the lead. “Our mission will change from combat to support. By 2014, this process of transition will be complete, and the Afghan people will be responsible for their own security,” he explained. (White House blog entry, with video of address.) (See also Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ statement)
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.