US decision to reduce troops in Afghanistan, Iraq draws ire

The US authorities on Tuesday introduced that the variety of American troops stationed in Afghanistan might be reduce by half by mid-January, drawing criticism from each Republicans and Democrats who warned that it could be a “mistake” and will imperil peace efforts within the nation.

By January 15, 5 days earlier than the inauguration of Joe Biden because the 46th president of the US, the variety of American forces in Afghanistan will come down from the present stage of 4,500 to 2,500. The variety of troopers in Iraq can even be lowered, from the prevailing 3,000 to 2,500.

The Trump administration’s determination comes as a part of the Republican president’s a lot debated pledge to carry America’s “endless wars” to an finish.

Citing US casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq – 6,900 killed and 52,000 wounded – appearing secretary of defence Christopher Miller advised reporters, “I am formally announcing that we will implement President Trump’s orders to continue our repositioning of forces from those two countries.”

 

Miller was not accompanied on the announcement by Mark Milley, the chairman of joint chiefs of employees, who had earlier dismissed stories about troop reductions as hypothesis.

Robert O’Brien, the National Security Adviser, advised reporters that Trump hoped “that they will all come home safely – and in their entirety” by May.

That was an uncommon projection to make as president-elect Biden could be in cost then and it could be his administration’s determination. There was no phrase from Biden or his staff but on the troop withdrawals.

Criticism of the transfer got here swiftly, and from each the events. Even shut Republican allies have been outraged. “I think it’s extremely important here in the next couple of months not to have any earthshaking changes with regard to defence and foreign policy,” Mitch McConnell, the highest Republican within the US Senate, advised reporters. “I think a precipitous drawdown in either Afghanistan or Iraq would be a mistake.”

Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic senator who has served in Afghanistan and misplaced each her legs to fight wounds in Iraq, warned of antagonistic impression of the transfer on peace efforts. “We all want our troops to be brought home safely, but this announcement is a mistake. At a time when we are finally seeing serious peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Donald Trump is unilaterally taking one of our best bargaining chips off the table – and getting nothing in return.”

Meanwhile, rockets struck Baghdad on Tuesday with 4 touchdown contained in the Green Zone, killing a toddler and wounding 5 folks, signalling an finish to a casual truce introduced by Iran-backed militias in October. One of the rockets struck near Iraq’s National Security Service, 600m from the US embassy.

(With inputs from Agencies)