Since the end of the surge of US forces in Afghanistan in 2011, the US has been cutting its troop levels in the country. So far, the number of US troops has been reduced from a high of 100,000 in 2011 to 66,000 today. Under an agreement between NATO and the Afghan government, the NATO combat mission in Afghanistan will conclude by the end of 2014, when the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will have assumed full responsibility for the country’s security. Discussions are now being conducted on how many US troops should remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
General John Allen’s recommendations
According to the New York Times, General John Allen, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, has put forward his recommendations. The general’s recommendations include three options which depend on the capabilities that are to be retained: 6,000 troops; 10,000 troops; and 20,000 troops.
Option#1: “With 6,000 troops, defense officials said, the American mission would largely be a counterterrorism fight of Special Operations commandos who would hunt down insurgents. There would be limited logistical support and training for Afghan security forces.” US forces would be concentrated in one base only, Bagram. This is the ‘ANSF is on its own’ option.
Option#2: “With 10,000 troops, the United States would expand training of Afghan security forces. ” On top of the troops from option #1, this would provide an additional 4,000 US troops to support training and mentoring in the ANSF. These troops would essentially continue the deployment of training teams currently in place. Some troops would be assigned to ANSF training bases and others would be partnered with ANSF units in the field. In addition to training and mentoring, this option would confer some ability for ANSF units to call in NATO airstrikes. This number of troops is similar to US troop levels in 2003-2004.
Option#3: “With 20,000 troops, the Obama administration would add some conventional Army forces to patrol in limited areas.” On top of the troops from option #2, this option adds 10,000 troops (about one or two brigades) of conventional army forces. It is unlikely that they would be used for patrolling, since the number of troops would be insufficient for that purpose. A more useful function would be a Quick Reaction Force to bail out ANSF units if they got into trouble during specific operations. There would be either one or two major US bases: Regional Command-East in Bagram, and a possible second base at Regional Command-South at Kandahar. This number of troops is similar to US troop levels in 2005-2007.
President Obama’s preference
It is now President Obama’s responsibility to make the final decision. While the decision has not been made, his preference has been reported in a number of articles. All reports suggest he prefers a smaller number, fewer than 10,000 troops.
Fox News reports that the president’s preferred option calls for fewer than 10,000 troops:
The White House is not considering any option that would leave more than 10,000 American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014.
The Los Angeles Times says the preference is for 6,000-9,000 troops:
The Obama administration plans on keeping 6,000 to 9,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014, fewer than previously reported, and will confine most of them to fortified garrisons near the capital, leaving Afghan troops largely without American advisors in the field to fight a still-powerful insurgency.
The Washington Post reports that a level as low as 2,500 troops is being considered:
Some in the administration are pressing for a force that could be as small as 2,500, arguing that a light touch would be the most constructive way to cap the costly, unpopular war.
Al Jazeera and Reuters report that the option of withdrawing all troops, or the “zero option,” is also being considered:
Asked about consideration of a so-called zero-option once the NATO combat mission ends at the end of 2014, [U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser] Rhodes said: “That would be an option that we would consider.”
A final decision is not expected for several months.
Update, 1/11:
According to Reuters, the White House is asking for options to be developed for keeping between 3,000 and 9,000 troops in the country. This implies that only Special Operations Forces (SOF) focusing on countererrorism operations will remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
– 3,000 troops would be the minimum required for the SOF to be able to maintain a credible counterterrorism capability.
– 9,000 troops would constitute a substantial SOF with a robust countererrorism capability. This would be similar to the US’s current SOF capacity in Afghanistan.
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7 Comments
Just like the surge itself, for Obama it’s always about the numbers. Not the mission, the numbers.
Since the 1900’s virtually every conflict in which the United States defeated an insurgency followed a pattern where a large number of US forces would intervene in some conflict, destroy the major capabilities of the insurgency, and then a secondary phase where US forces were integrated into local constabulary or guard units that replaced American military units. These local forces with american advisers attached would then finish off what remained of the insurgency. This strategy was used in the Philippines , Nicaragua, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and to a certain degree in Iraq and El Salvador with huge success. Simply withdrawing before the Afghan Army can fend for itself would be a disastrous policy with future repercussions much worse than the 1973 withdrawal from Vietnam.
‘Some in the administration are pressing for a force that could be as small as 2,500’
I know just the commander for this job,
General Xenophon of Athens.
“Though the U.S. soldiers were greatly outnumbered, they stopped the Taliban from overrunning the outpost after Afghan troops and guards reportedly fled.”
The above is part of the story on Sgt Clinton Romesha, who is to receive the Medal of Honor next month. Though the above describes Afghan conduct back in 2009, I doubt much has changed. Once we are gone, so will go the ANA. Al Qaeda will re-insinuate itself into Afghan society and commence 911 redux.
I give President Obama a great deal of credit for warring in the WoT to a degree much greater than that of his predecessors in Office. Nonetheless, before his Second Term is finished I predict he will be regretting the presently planned withdrawal.
as long as the US continues supply Afghanistan with the necessary amount of war fighting & security material the Afghans will fare just fine. If there are issue’s for the US to focus it is the matter of transport, communications & a responsible medical support infrastructure
Just enough to run te Disposition Matrix program with QRF’s.
Nice Article! As Obama has said he wouldn’t be leaving any of the troops in afghanistan. He has declared to retrieve them back. Let’s hope for the best.