Situation Report: Trump orders troop reductions in Afghanistan, Iraq

The Defense Department is expected to cut nearly 2,000 troops from Afghanistan and 500 troops from Iraq by mid-January, according to U.S. officials. This decision is consistent with President Trump’s long-standing goal to end America’s involvement in wars.

Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller confirmed that the troop reduction did not “equate to a change in U.S. policy or objectives,” in the war against terrorism at the Pentagon on Tuesday. He stated the troop reduction would be organized in a way that ensures U.S. troops, diplomats, intelligence officers and allies would be protected in the process.

Secretary Miller said that the administration remains “committed to finishing that war that brought Al-Qaeda to our shores in 2011,” but he also emphasized that “all wars must end.” During his confirmation hearing in July, Secretary Miller also clarified his perspective on prolonging the war in Afghanistan. “It would be, in my view, the height of irresponsibility to leave this conflict for our children to fight.”

Although President Trump initially increased the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan in 2017, he has since steadily reduced troop numbers and opened negotiations with the Taliban at talks held in Qatar. Acknowledging a military stalemate after 19 years of conflict, the U.S. signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in late February intending to end America’s longest war and bring home service members from Afghanistan. The agreement anticipated the withdrawal of all U.S. and allied forces over a 14-month period and would allow President Trump to keep a significant campaign pledge to end America’s “endless wars.”

While successful negotiations are essential to end nearly two decades of war in Afghanistan, the withdrawal of U.S. troops is contingent on the Taliban honoring its commitment to prohibit al-Qaeda and other extremist organizations to operate on Afghan soil. The Taliban has continued its incessant attacks against Afghan forces, however. U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalizad, architect of the February  peace agreement, acknowledged that the deal did not bar attacks on Afghans. According to Reuters, Khalilzad stated that the “agreement does not specifically call for them (the Taliban) not to attack Afghan forces. We are saying they are violating the spirit, if not the letter.”