one reason why so many americans have increasing doubts about the war, its significant price tag. the u.s. is spending $120 billion in afghanistan this year alone. since the war began nearly ten years ago, almost $300 billion. each pair of boots on the ground in afghanistan cost the u.s. taxpayer $1 million a year. with more than 30,000 troops leaving that s more than $30 billion in savings in manpower alone. the bodies of four troops returned home to dover air base. a somber reminder of the other costs of this war. joining 1,500 others killed in afghanistan. but there will still be 70,000 u.s. service members in afghanistan in 2012. the president said last night that they ll continue to come home at a steady pace through 2014 when afghan security forces will be expected to take the lead. peggy and daniel? while the president takes action with troops in afghanistan, his approval rating is sinking. and the economy may be to blame.
latest from washington. good morning, karen. reporter: good morning, peggy. good morning, daniel. president obama acknowledged the human cost of the war in afghanistan. but he also used the speech to speak to those who are frustrated with the billions of dollars that s being spent there. the war in afghanistan has cost the u.s. heavily. and last night president obama announced the beginning of the end. i also made it clear that our commitment would not be open-ended and that we would begin to draw down our forces this july. tonight, i can tell you that we are fulfilling that commitment. reporter: right now there are nearly 100,000 u.s. troops in afghanistan. that includes the 30,000 surge troops that deployed starting in 2009. the president said last night that 5,000 troops will leave this summer. another 5,000 by the end of this year. 23,000 more will be home by the end of the summer of 2012. but is that enough for a war-weary american public and a frustrated congress? the u.s.
this morning on world news now, fast flood. the rapidly rising river waters that are forcing thousands of people out of a north dakota town. the unusual factors that could lead to the worst flood in this town since the 1800s. it s thursday, june 23rd. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good morning. i m peggy bunker. and i m daniel sieberg in for rob nelson. just days ago people in minot thought they were safe and sound and the flood threat was gone. but the souris started raging at a rapid rate and the town could soon be under a devastating amount of floodwater. the worst could still be ahead here for these folks. they make a desperate attempt to get out, piling the sandbags, everything they can do.
this morning on world news now, exit strategy. the president outlines his plan to withdraw american military forces from afghanistan. the president detailed his plans about the unpopular war and told everyone why it s been a frustrating battle. it s thursday, june 23rd. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good morning, i m daniel sieberg in for rob nelson. and i m peggy bunker. as predicted the president announced on national tv that the troops will start leaving afghanistan next month, this after a war that most americans opposed. take a look at the price tags involved here after a long and difficult battle for so many. increasingly becoming an unpopular war. of course with the death of osama bin laden, you would have to think that this process would be moved along a little faster. everyone is very war weary, it s been such a long war, a very expensive war.
this morning on world news now, presidential priority. barack obama details his plans to pull american troops out of afghanistan. his withdrawal time line and what it means for the military and the american taxpayer. it s thursday, june 23rd. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good morning. i m peggy bunker. and i m daniel sieberg. rob nelson is on assignment. with the president s approval rating dropping he hit the air waves last night outlining plans to get the u.s. out of an unpopular war. we ll explain why his troop withdrawal plan will be a gradual one. you would of course expect that with nearly 100,000 troops there in afghanistan. essentially going to go on over a period of years, not months. and people will be comparing how many troops were there in the bush era as opposed to now. right, with the surge that