"The last of the 30,000 American surge troops sent to Afghanistan two years ago have left the battlefields of Afghanistan” said former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. I agree with this gradual leave. I think that all the American troops should gradually be taken out of Afghanistan and the ones that stay, should train the Afghan troops to fight for themselves. I will go through Obama’s plan, what I think should happen, how it will help, and how it has already helped.


American troops were sent to Afghanistan to take care of the terrorist groups, mostly the
Taliban and Al’ Qaeda. The troops have had a major impact on the size of the terrorist threat. An article from ABC news titled “Troops in Afghanistan” says that around October, 1, 2012 there was 70,000 American troops in Afghanistan. The hope was that the benchmark of 68,000 troops was reached October, 1, 2012. This was accomplished and they are on the right track to accomplish Obama’s plan of getting all the troops out by the end of 2014. Although there are some things that could be done differently. But Obama’s plan will and already has helped.


It is a good thing that the troops are gradually being taken out of Afghanistan. But they should put a little more effort into training the Afghan troops while the american troops are still in Afghanistan. “they will still be able to fight and protect themselves against the terrorists when all the American troops leave Afghanistan” says a CBS news article titled “Troops Leaving Afghanistan” published November, 3, 2012. The article says this because the Taliban plays such a big part in Afghanistan. Gen. John Allen says that the American troops should definitely “take care of” as much of the terrorist groups as they can before leaving Afghanistan.


“The Afghans would be able to fight their own battles and protect themselves” says the same article mentioned in the earlier paragraph. This means they would be able to have a better security and not be as dependant on the U.S. and our troops. This would help with more dependence in the Afghan military throughout their country. Brig. Gen. Roger Noble says that the economy would also go up “because of the fewer” Taliban and other terrorist groups. There would be less of a distraction, the people could focus more on the economy and not as much on all the fighting.

Osama Bin Laden’s death has given more confidence to the Afghan troops because he was one of the biggest influences for the terrorist groups in Afghanistan. Gen. John Allen, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan says his death “has had a major effect on the terrorist groups in Afghanistan” the presence of the American troops has given more hope to the people in Afghanistan and they need that have that hope even without the presence of the American troops.

President Barack Obama’s plan is to have all the American troops out of Afghanistan by 2014 and I agree but those troops should train the Afghan troops while they are still there. This will bring more hope and peace to the people in Afghanistan. We can also help with the war effort. If we work together we help with the war in Afghanistan a lot.