Trump to cut US troops in Afghanistan & Iraq to 2500; Republicans slam 'humiliating' plan

Several Republican leers, including US Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell, have slammed President Donald Trump’s plan for a swift reduction of US troop presence in Afghanistan. Trump ministration is expected to cut number of US forces in Afghanistan almost in half to 2,500 by January 15. order would stop short of outgoing President Trump’s goal to have all troops withdrawn by end of year, which h faced opposition from military and diplomatic visers. 

McConnell, who is a staunch defender of Trump, called plan “a mistake” and warned that withdrawal would be a gift to America’s enemies and would undermine progress alrey me in region. While speaking on Senate floor, GOP leer said warned president against taking any “earthshaking changes” in regards to defence and foreign policy before leaving White House. He also warned against a potentially “humiliating” withdrawal that threatens to undo Trump’s “tremendous” work in region. 

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McConnell said that a premature exit would be reminiscent of US departure from Saigon in 1975. He ded that leaving Afghanistan w “would be brocast around world as a symbol of US defeat and humiliation and a victory for Islamic extremism”. 

Along with GOP leer, several or Republicans also voice ir concerns. According to BBC, Texas Republican Congressman Mac Thornberry called move a “mistake” and said that cutting troop numbers would “undercut negotiations” which are currently underway aiming to bring an end to fighting in Afghanistan. Senator Ben Sasse, who sits on Senate Intelligence Committee, also said that Trump’s plan was a “weak retreat”. He ded that it was t grounded in reality and will make world a more dangerous place. 

Furrmore, NATO Secretary-General Jen Stoltenberg said that price for leaving too soon or in an uncoordinated way could be very high. He said that Afghanistan risked once again becoming a platform for international militants to organise attacks. 

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‘Warning order’ sent to initiate withdrawal process 

Meanwhile, currently, re are nearly 4,500 US military commanders in Afghanistan and 3,000 in Iraq, but latest move calling for drawdown indicates that Trump ministration is willing to remove thousands of troops from both countries. This came in backdrop of Trump saying earlier this year that he wants all American soldiers “home” by Christmas, that is December 25. On October 7 Trump tweeted: “We should have small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!”

According to a CNN report, Pentagon has sent a tice to its commanders, also kwn as "warning order", to initiate planning process of withdrawal of hundreds of troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq just five days before Inauguration Day on January 20 when 46th US President-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in.

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