Donald Trump for withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by Christmas

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought the withdrawal of all American troops from Afghanistan by Christmas this year. This is months ahead of plans to prepare for a withdrawal by May 2021. Provided the Taliban meet conditions of a peace agreement struck in February.

Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday night, “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!”

We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020

On February 29 an agreement was reached in Qatar with the Taliban to oppose terrorism in Afghanistan. They were asked to take part in peace negotiations with other forces in the country. As promised the US reduced its force level to 8,600 and turned five bases over to its Afghan partners.

This August, the president said that the conditions in Afghanistan were sufficient to reduce the force presence to between 4,000 and 5,000 by November end.

For the unversed, American troops have been in Afghanistan since shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001. It represents the longest period of armed conflict in U.S. history, About 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in the Afghan conflict and many thousands more wounded.

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