OPINION

Afghanistan says its new army ready for transition as US about to start troop drawdown

Townhall Staff
Townhall Staff  |  Jun 22, 2011
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KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s NATO-trained military is ready to take responsibility for fighting Taliban insurgents and securing key parts of the country that will be the first to transition as the U.S. begins a troop drawdown in July, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Many Afghans are eager to see an American departure nearly 10 years after U.S. forces invaded to oust al-Qaida’s Taliban hosts from power, and President Barack Obama is expected to announce plans later Wednesday to bring roughly 10,000 American troops home in less than a year.