Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Afghanistan War News Updates -- February 12, 2013

A U.S. soldier helps a fellow soldier onto the rooftop of an old, destroyed building to provide overwatch for another element of their patrol in the Panjwa’i district, Afghanistan, Jan. 29, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth

Obama To Announce 34,000 Troops To Come Home -- CNN

Washington (CNN) -- In his State of the Union speech Tuesday, President Obama will announce that by this time next year, 34,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan will have returned home, according to sources with knowledge of the president's speech.

The move will reduce the number of U.S. forces in the country by more than half. There are now about 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

A Washington Post poll out Tuesday morning shows that 80% of registered voters support the president's policy to end the war in Afghanistan.

In January, Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Washington, where they agreed to accelerate the military transition in Afghanistan. Afghan forces will take the lead in combat missions throughout the country starting in spring, instead of midyear as was previously expected.

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More News On Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command operational update, Feb 12 -- ISAF

Half of U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Home in 1 Year -- Defense News
34,000 U.S. Troops to Exit Afghanistan Within a Year -- New York Times
Obama to announce 34,000 troops out of Afghanistan
-- BBC
Obama to announce 34K troops to be home in 1 year -- AP
Obama to announce 34,000 troops to come home -- CNN
34,000 US troops home from Afghanistan in next year: source -- AFP
Obama plans 34,000 troop drawdown in Afghanistan -- USA Today
Obama to announce major Afghanistan troop drawdown -- CBS

Fox News Poll: Voters split over removing all troops from Afghanistan -- FOX News
In Afghanistan pullout, Pentagon favors phased reduction over 3 years -- Washington Post
US military leader plays down 'zero option' for troop levels in Afghanistan -- The Guardian
Last rescue squadrons leaving Kandahar -- Air Force Times

Australia’s military role in Afghanistan pending US decision -- Khaama Press
Defence equipment to stay in Afghanistan -- The Australian

US ships military equipment out of Afghanistan
-- AP
U.S. Begins Withdrawing Military Equipment From Afghanistan -- Radio Free Europe
US begins equipment withdrawal -- Business Recorder

Afghanistan: UN welcomes Government moves to address detainee torture
-- UN News Centre
Half of Afghan prisoners complain of torture -- The Telegraph
Government Panel in Afghanistan Confirms Widespread Torture of Detainees -- New York Times
Afghan government acknowledges torture of detainees but denies systematic abuse of prisoners -- Washington Post

In Afghanistan Everyone Is A Winner
-- Strategy Page

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