Topic: Troop Levels
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Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 5 ways they differ on military issues
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has not been expansive regarding his views of the war in Afghanistan – perhaps because both he and President Obama do not have significantly different plans. But here are five areas where the candidates differ on military issues.
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21 nonfiction books to watch for in spring 2012
This early harvest of spring 2012 titles looks promising.
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Who's who in Iraq after the US exit?
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What is a loya jirga? Afghanistan's most pivotal jirgas since 2002.
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Syria's neighbors: How 5 border nations are reacting to Assad's crackdown
All Content
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Obama to announce Afghan troop withdrawal at State of the Union (+video)
The President will inform Congress and the American people that thousands of US troops will be back home from Afghanistan in one year's time.
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Military death toll in Afghanistan reaches 2,000
While the US prepares to withdraw most of its troops from Afghanistan by 2014, the number of military deaths in the country continues to rise. The toll is now at 2,000.
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Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 5 ways they differ on military issues
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has not been expansive regarding his views of the war in Afghanistan – perhaps because both he and President Obama do not have significantly different plans. But here are five areas where the candidates differ on military issues.
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Ron Paul: Most Americans agree with him on Afghanistan pullout
Ron Paul has yet to win a primary or caucus election, but on one thing he has the support of most Americans: The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan sooner rather than later.
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21 nonfiction books to watch for in spring 2012
This early harvest of spring 2012 titles looks promising.
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Keep Calm When US troops leave Afghanistan, an American university will remain
US military withdrawal from Afghanistan won't necessarily spell the end of US commitments to Afghanistan, says president of American University of Afghanistan.
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Soldier's killing spree: Is end of Afghanistan war near? (+video)
Widespread Afghan outrage could force the US to accelerate plans to bring the Afghanistan war to a close. But that hasn't happened yet, and military officials are wary of a quick withdrawal.
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Backchannels Why an apology on Afghan Quran burning matters
Because it might save lives.
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Who's who in Iraq after the US exit?
The US troop surge in 2007 helped quiet Iraq's bloody civil war. But it failed to deliver on what US officials and officers said was crucial for Iraq's future at the time: sectarian reconciliation. Rather than forging a new national identity out of the horrors of Iraq's war, Iraq's Shiite and Sunni Arabs and ethnic Kurds sullenly retreated to their own sectarian corners, and the country's political parties remain vehicles for ethnic or sectarian interests. The next year is probably going to be the most crucial for determining the future of Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003, as Iraq's various political factions compete for power and influence without foreign troops getting in the way. Here are a few of the major players.
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What is a loya jirga? Afghanistan's most pivotal jirgas since 2002.
A loya jirga, or grand assembly, is really just a traditional meeting that serves to bring local leaders from all over the country together to discuss a critical issue during a time of instability. While the meetings are seen as a critical part of Afghan political life, they are a relatively rare occurrence. In the past 300 years, Afghanistan has had fewer than 20 loya jirgas, about a quarter of which have taken place in the past decade. But as the Afghan political system grows stronger and develops democratic institutions such as the parliament, many now question their value altogether. Here are the four most pivotal jirgas of the past decade and what came out of the meetings:
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Obama's national security record not much political help for him
The White House sees the death of Muammar Qaddafi and the end to US war in Iraq as major successes for the US and, not incidentally, for President Obama. But most Americans are more interested in the economy than foreign policy.
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Syria's neighbors: How 5 border nations are reacting to Assad's crackdown
Lebanon’s Syria-backed government has tried to distance itself from the upheaval next door, fearful of the repercussions if the violence worsens or if the Assad regime collapses. But the other four countries with that share borders with Syria have reacted in different ways to the seven-month uprising, reflecting their respective regional heft and national interests.
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Sudanese government forces defy withdrawal schedule for Abyei
Sudanese government forces remain in the disputed Abyei region, flouting the first phase of the withdrawal schedule and complicating efforts to settle the area's status.
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South Sudan has currency. What's next on the to-do list?
On July 9, South Sudan became the world’s newest country when it separated from the North. It now needs to accomplish a host of nation-building steps big and small. From the new country’s to-do list:
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Suicide bombers have invaded Kabul's Inter-Continental Hotel
The rare nighttime attack on Kabul's Inter-Continental Hotel is still unfolding. Kabul residents say multiple gunmen, some presumed to be suicide bombers, have infiltrated the hotel.
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Obama’s Afghanistan withdrawal: another sign of America's decline?
To the Taliban – and much of the world – the withdrawal is a sign of US weakness. The short-term benefits of abandoning counterinsurgency in Afghanistan may be politically appealing. But the long-term costs may be greater than Obama anticipates.
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Obama details plan to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan
President Obama announced that the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will begin with 10,000 troops this year, plus another 23,000 by the end of next summer. Gains have been made against the Taliban, he said, but the fight against al Qaeda will continue wherever necessary.
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Who will carry out Obama's Afghanistan exit plan? Three new guys.
After President Obama outlines his strategy Wednesday for winding down the 10-year war in Afghanistan – including the rate of US troop withdrawals – it will be the duty of three men, all new in their roles, to get it done. It will be a tough job, and there is likely to be plenty of second-guessing not only about the strategy itself, but also their handling of it, from Congress, pundits, and ex-military types. Here are some clues into what priorities these three defense leaders might set and a look at the particular skills each brings to the task of managing America’s longest war.
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What Afghans think about President Obama's troop drawdown
Many Afghans have mixed feelings about tonight's announcement from President Obama that the US will begin drawing down the levels of troops in Afghanistan.
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Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Three options weighed by the White House
How many US troops are coming home from Afghanistan this year? On the eve of Obama's speech on his promised July start to the drawdown of American forces, here are three scenarios.
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As troop drawdown nears, is NATO surge working in Afghanistan?
As Obama's promise of a troop drawdown nears, the US military says the surge of tens of thousands of NATO reinforcements that began last year has won some and lost some against the Taliban but needs more time to succeed.
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CIA chief Leon Panetta: The next Pearl Harbor could be a cyberattack
Leon Panetta, at a confirmation hearing for the post of Defense secretary, says the US will need to take 'both defensive ... as well as aggressive measures' to deal with the threat of cyberattack.
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In Pictures: Robert Gates through the years
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Gas prices and five other liabilities for Obama in 2012
“Yes We Can” was so 2008. Now President Obama is the incumbent, with a record to defend. More than whom the Republicans nominate to run against him in 2012, how voters perceive Mr. Obama’s accomplishments and liabilities – two highly subjective categories, at times overlapping – will determine whether he gets four more years. Here are his top six liabilities, including still-high gas prices:
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How Leon Panetta could change Washington as next Defense secretary
Leon Panetta, currently CIA director, is a close ally of Vice President Biden. But political realities could prevent him from adopting Mr. Biden's stance on US troops in Afghanistan.
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