EXIT STRATEGY

U.S. Deciding Afghan Troop Levels

Once mission ends in 2014. 

The U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan is set to end in 2014—but that doesn’t mean the country won’t still need an American military presence. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday that the administration is currently weighing several different options on how many troops will remain in Afghanistan post-2014, and will decide within the next few weeks. Once the decision is made, plans can be put in place for how to start removing the 67,000 troops currently in the country. Panetta was also asked about the recent resignation of his CIA director successor David Petraeus, saying, “I think he took the right step,” by resigning.