Obama orders Afghanistan drawdown

The World

President Barack Obama has announced the withdrawal of 10,000 US troops from Afghanistan this year and another 23,000 by September 2012. Speaking from the White House, Mr Obama told Americans that it was “time to focus on nation-building here at home”. Mr Obama’s announcement, after a month-long strategy review, outlined the exit of the forces he sent to the country at the end of 2009 as part of a “surge”.

Listen to the President’s speech and analysis with Daniel Serwer of the Center for TransAtlantic Relations.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.