To the Point

President Obama Proposes Drawdown in Afghanistan

President Obama says bringing home 30,000 troops from his "surge" before next year's elections is "the beginning, but not the end," of his effort to wind down the war. The Pentagon wanted a slower withdrawal to maintain what commanders concede are "fragile" gains, but 56 percent of Americans have severe "war fatigue."

By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

President Obama says bringing home 30,000 troops from his "surge" before next year's elections is "the beginning, but not the end," of his effort to wind down the war. The Pentagon wanted a slower withdrawal to maintain what commanders concede are "fragile" gains, but 56 percent of Americans have severe "war fatigue." Is al Qaeda no longer a threat to Americans? Are the Taliban on the run? Can the Karzai government learn to provide services and defend the country? We get reaction to last night's speech from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Washington, DC, and from local elected officials who want to see "nation building" at home.