Washington – President Barack Obama's decision to slow the withdrawal
of American troops from Afghanistan will be welcomed at the NATO summit this
weekend. It will provide aid for allied forces and bolster US efforts to get
more pledges of support for the war from US allies.
Obama's move quells lingering questions within NATO about
America's commitment. And it will allow the US military to expand its work with
Afghan forces as they face a resurgent Taliban and a troubling presence of
Islamic State fighters in the country.
Obama will leave 8 400 US troops in Afghanistan into 2017, rather
than cut the force to 5 500 at the end of the year as initially planned.
Military commanders, lawmakers and allied leaders had pressured
the administration to maintain the current 9 800 troops in Afghanistan.
