Obama's decision on troop withdrawal from Afghanistan is forthcoming, what is 'significant'?

[tekisui]

Obama will announce in the next week or two how many troops will be coming home from Afghanistan in July, and perhaps plans for the rest of the year.

Currently, there are a little over 100,000 US troops in Afghanistan, including Obama's 'surge' of 30,000 that went in at the end of 2009/early 2010 and the 26,000 he sent in soon after he was sworn in.

He has promised it will be a significant withdrawal this July. What do you consider 'significant'?

Gates suggested no more than 3-5,000. 10,000 was a number that has also been mentioned.

[middleclassmom]

1. It is time to get out

Bring all the troops home. The Soviet Union knew when to cut their losses, it is time to get out

[tekisui]

2. NATO/US is planning on keeping troops there until at least 2014.

But, I do agree.

[Obamanaut]

3. All of them from all the -istan suffixed named countries, Iraq, and all the

military sites of all size not on US soil.

Saves all that money currently being spent on lease payments to the host countries, as well as the salaries of the local civilians working at those sites.

Bring home all the usable equipment that is transportable, sell the remainder to the host country at a discount rate (carport sale.)

Spread the returning personnel and families (some are on accompanied tours) among the bases in the US that were downsized. Immediate influx of funds into the local economies.

Gradually reduce the overall size of the military via normal attrition as enlistments expire and reduced recruiting efforts.

Stop being 'police force to the world.'

[Wwagsthedog]

5. Well said! n/t

[Dawgs]

4. Why not a choice for every fucking one of them?

And, other doesn't count.

[customerserviceguy]

6. Agreed, that's why I voted for 'other'

We need them all out. bin Laden is dead, no other reason to be there.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. I don't like that you capped the choices

should have gone with :

3,000+

5,000+

10,000+






Something like that. I can't vote for something with a cap because I support more than my minimum number being removed.