WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2005
U.S. To Reduce Afghan Troop Level
Rumsfeld Says NATO Forces, Afghan Army Enable 3,500 Troop Decrease
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Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld walks past an honor guard of Afghan soldiers last year. (AP)
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NATO has been gradually expanding across Afghanistan, assuming responsibility for security from the U.S.-led coalition.
The NATO-led force has about 12,000 soldiers from 36 nations and is responsible for security in Kabul as well as northern and western regions of the country. U.S.-led forces are in the east and south hunting Taliban and al Qaeda fighters.
Rumsfeld cited three main reasons for shrinking the U.S. force:
The Pentagon has refused to reveal details of any reduction of forces in Iraq. Defense officials have said they hope to reduce U.S. forces in Iraq, which peaked at about 160,000 this fall for Iraq's elections, to 138,000 by February and perhaps still lower afterward if conditions allow.
Defense officials have said the deployment of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based in Kansas, would be canceled.
Instead, portions of the brigade would be divided into 10- or 11-member military transition teams to be sent separately into Iraq to work with Iraqi security forces. The officials who described the plans asked not to be identified because the decision is not final.
Some other members of the brigade are expected to go to Iraq to do security duty, such as guarding high-profile targets.
Also, a large part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, which is currently in Kuwait and is usually based in Germany, would return to its home base. The rest would stay in Kuwait, prepared to respond to any emergency in Iraq, the officials said.
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