Report: U.S. Force In Afghanistan Will Be Cut To Less Than 10,000 Troops

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jordan Baxter, foreground, leads a patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 12, 2014. Baxter, a squad leader, is assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Zachery B. Martin

Exclusive: U.S. Force In Afghanistan May Be Cut To Less Than 10,000 Troops -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan may drop well below 10,000 - the minimum demanded by the U.S. military to train Afghan forces - as the longest war in American history winds down, Obama administration officials briefed on the matter say.

Since Afghanistan's general election on April 5, White House, State Department and Pentagon officials have resumed discussions on how many American troops should remain after the current U.S.-led coalition ends its mission this year.

The decision to consider a small force, possibly less than 5,000 U.S. troops, reflects a belief among White House officials that Afghan security forces have evolved into a robust enough force to contain a still-potent Taliban-led insurgency. The small U.S. force that would remain could focus on counter-terrorism or training operations.

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Update #1: US troop numbers in Afghanistan may drop below 10000 -- The Telegraph
Update #2: US troops in Afghanistan may be cut to less than 10,000 after 2014 -- FOX News
Update #3: US may cut its troops in Afghanistan to less than 10,000 -- Voice of Russia

My Comment: The Afghan Presidential election results are not yet in .... but I guess there are quiet talks behind closed doors among all parties on what the U.S. presence will be.