President Obama is planning a further reduction in US troop levels in Afghanistan, drawing down to 9,800 by the end of this year, diminishing to half that by the end of 2015, and leaving just embassy staff by late 2016. If no agreement regarding status of forces is reached with Afghanistan, there is a possibility that all US troops will be withdrawn. The Obama administration is also considering authorizing a US military mission to train allegedly moderate Syrian rebels. US special operations teams are currently training and equipping counterterrorism forces in Libya, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The US has deployed a warship with about 1,000 Marines to the coast of Libya in case Americans need to be evacuated from the country.
