US involvement in Afghanistan extended
An order has been issued for American troops to stay in Afghanistan until next year. They will be able to fight militant groups posing a direct threat to the Afghan government.
by Michael Keane, staff reporter
President Obama has issued an order than will ensure the presence of American troops in Afghanistan until next year. American forces will be able to fight militant groups posing a direct threat to the Afghan government.
“Afghan forces are still not as strong as they need to be,” President Barack Obama said.
This order plans to keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan throughout most of 2016 and plans to reduce that number to 5,500 by the end of the year. This is a major change considering how Obama had originally promised to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan to 1,000 by the end of 2016.
This decision comes as a result of several months long discussions between high ranking US and Afghan officials. The troops will be tasked with training Afghan military forces and counterterrorism operations against threats to Afghanistan and America. This operation is expected to cost 14.6 million dollars.
“I think it’s ridiculous because Obama promised to take the troops out of Afghanistan and has gone back on his word to the people and military,” junior Tyler Metzler said.