Pentagon Preparing For President Trump To Issue Formal Orders For More Troop Withdrawals From Afghanistan And Iraq

Brigadier General Larry Nicholson addressed Marines before they conducted a helicopter assault into Marja, a Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times 

CNN: US military anticipates Trump will issue order to plan for further troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq 

US military commanders are anticipating that a formal order will be given by President Donald Trump as soon as this week to begin a further withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq before Trump leaves office on January 20, according to two US officials familiar. 

The Pentagon has issued a notice to commanders known as a "warning order" to begin planning to drawdown the number of troops in Afghanistan to 2,500 troops and 2,500 in Iraq by Jan 15, the officials said. Currently there are approximately 4,500 US troops in Afghanistan and 3,000 troops in Iraq. 

The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. 

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WNU Editor: I for one would not be surprised if the incoming Biden administration will reverse some of these troop withdrawals.