When President Obama announces plans to begin withdrawing forces from Afghanistan on Wednesday—The Daily Beast’s John Barry says he’ll bring home 10,000 troops by year’s end—he’ll apparently do so against the Pentagon's advice. Obama is expected to announce the withdrawal of 30,000 “surge” troops by the end of 2012—troops The Guardian says military commanders, including David Petraeus, want to keep in place until the end of 2012, with a drawdown beginning in 2013. With the 2012 election approaching, Obama wants to send the signal to American voters that the Afghanistan commitment is beginning to end.