'No plan' to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Christmas, top defense lawm

[Boats]

'No plan' to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Christmas, top defense lawmaker says
By: Lauren Toms - The Washington Times - 10-30-20
Re: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...istan-christm/

There is “no plan” to pull all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Christmas, as President Trump suggested earlier this month, a key defense lawmaker said.

In a surprise tweet, Mr. Trump announced a sharply accelerated schedule for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from the 19-year conflict in Afghanistan by Christmas, despite crumbling peace talks, a surge in violence in the countryand pushback from Pentagon officials.

Mr. Trump has made no secret of his desire to end the U.S. mission in the “endless” conflict in Afghanistan, and a deal with the Taliban early this year outlined a schedule for a string of drawdowns leading to a full pullout by mid-2021.

The schedule was also supposed to be conditioned on a reduction in violence by the Taliban against the U.S.-backed government and a promise by the insurgents not to work with terror groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

In a wide-ranging conversation Wednesday hosted by the Center for New American Security, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee gave Mr. Trump credit for reducing the number of U.S. troops and praised the move for making “a lot of sense.”

“Now, there’s been sort of a plan to do that, and there’s sort of been a tweet we should get out by Christmas,” said Rep. Adam Smith, Washington Democrat. “Well, there’s no plan to get out by Christmas, there’s just not. The White House hasn’t submitted one and the Pentagon doesn’t have one.”

Mr. Trump’s announcement received pushback from the Pentagon’s top uniformed officer, Gen. Mark Milley. Last week he refused to confirm the rapid withdrawal timeline and said only that the U.S. is in the process of cutting its force to about 4,500 service members, down from the roughly 12,000 American forces stationed in the country at the beginning of 2020.

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Personal note: I never thought this would happen - we've go too much invested in the security of this area. To leave would be an open door for invasion and increased insurgency back into their country. We have to stand our ground holidays or not many of us have missed holidays when serving the guys know what's at risk to just pull out.
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It's been a long skirmish for sure - but again we are the only ones that can maintain some sort of stability and preventing the slaughter of the innocent people in that country. I wish you well and a Merry Christmas & New Years - but again I do understand the longing to be home for the holidays. Be safe and we'll see ya soon - Boats