With the United States withdrawing its forces much faster than usual from Afghanistan almost one year earlier, the strategy has shifted now to the deployment of Green Berets in the region who will carry out tasks such as the training of local troops as well as the hunt for insurgent leaders.
In confirming this move of the administration from the use of conventional to Special Operations troops, Tommy Vietor, says, “The president said in June that when the drawdown of surge forces is complete in September, U.S. troops will continue coming home at a steady pace and our mission will shift from combat to support as the Afghans take the lead.”
Unlike Iraq where troops have been withdrawn as soon as possible, this change of strategy will protect Obama from criticism from Republicans as they consider the withdrawal of troops too soon. While Iraq does not wish for an American presence past 2012, the Afghan authorities want to continue this military partnership until 2014 and more.
What this means is that large numbers of the American military will not be taking part in patrols or even fighting to combat militant attacks but they will a play in supporting Afghan forces that will carry out these missions from now on.
While 22000 troops will be withdrawn in the coming days, what remains to be seen is how many of the 68000 troops in Afghanistan will remain so, in the coming year.