Violence in Afghanistan and the still-uneven skills of Afghan National Security Forces make conditions too “precarious” to withdraw USA troops as rapidly as originally envisioned, President Obama conceded Wednesday.
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Elected after vowing to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Obama has struggled to deliver a legacy of leaving the USA less encumbered by foreign conflicts than he found it. Although he’s declared us combat operations over in both countries, the U.S.is still deep in conflict in both, plus major new fighting that has emerged in Syria and Libya since he took office.
The number of USA soldiers who will remain in Afghanistan by the year’s end was upwardly revised, once again, by President Obama, who warned that gains by the Taliban and terrorist organizations continue to threaten the stability of the country.
In response to Obama’s announcement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Al Jazeera: “Whether the U.S. decides to keep [its] troops in Afghanistan or not, whether the numbers are more or less, we will continue to fight them”. There are 41 allies and partners working in the country, fielding more than 6,000 troops of their own.
Earlier, during a press briefing at the White House, Obama announced that he would leave behind 8,400 American forces by the year-end, almost 3,000 more than what he had promised past year.
Yet Obama appeared to settle on a number that would show continued progress toward drawing down without jeopardizing the mission. In the past they provided support only to Afghan special forces.
Speaking from the White House on Wednesday morning, Obama gave a brief overview of USA achievements in Afghanistan and described the two “narrow missions” underway involving the remaining troops.
For a president who promised to end this war, stabilizing Afghanistan has proved to be a hard puzzle to solve.
“The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious”. Over the past year – since it announced the death of its former leader Mullah Mohammed Omar – the Taliban has intensified bombings and large-scale assaults on security forces in the country, shunning peace talks with the Afghan government.
The Taliban said the USA action would only prolong the war.
“We’ve been able to end our ground war”, Obama said. U.S. President Barack Obama announces another troop adjustment for the American military commitment in Afghanistan.
Obama’s decision, which came after a review submitted last month by the USA commander in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson, drew some criticism inside and outside his administration.
The original plan, notes CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin, was to have 5,500 troops remaining in Afghanistan going into 2017 – with most or all of them as Kabul-based advisers to the Afghanistan military.
He said his decision “also sends a message to the Taliban and all those who have opposed Afghanistan’s progress”.
“Obviously, it frustrates you”, Glynn said.
Obama heads to Poland on Thursday to meet with other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation leaders and to reassess their Afghan and Middle East strategies.
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The decision also reflected worries in the administration that Al Qaeda was regrouping in Afghanistan, and that the Islamic State had established a foothold there.
