Withdrawing US Troops

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, recently announced the possibility that some of the U.S forces involved in the Afghanistan surge, could leave the country before President Obama's announced July 2011 withdrawal date. He announced his predictions during his recent visit to a training ground in Kabul where Afghan soldiers train under U.S. and British instruction. British Brigadier informed Gates that if more NATO countries were to contribute more trainers, the ability to expand Afghanistan's army would keep its pace. In a conference Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said he and his country are ashamed and embarrassed that other foreign nations are assuming its defense and said he is eager to take over the difficult job. The main goal is to hand back the responsibility of their own country by next fall. The goal is to expand the Afghan National Army to 171,000 and the police force to 134,000. Wardak hopes that by next year they will be capable of taking responsibility of the "security of the country in different regions," believes that the process will continue as the numbers and their capabilities increase. Gates went on to say that the transition will happen no later than July 2011 but the pace will depend on the conditions. Gates was impressed when Afghan soldiers dealt with a stimulated roadside bomb explosion where they tended to casualties and contained the explosive. Even though their attention right now is focused on the southern parts of the country, Gates believes that the training for the long term is ore important and the Afghans are the only ones that "will be able to provide security for Afghanistan."