Drawdown Plan News Today

Evacuation. as you know, david, we were still in the process, before there was a need to do a non-combatant evacuation, we were still in the process of a drawdown at the airport, the previous plan, by the end of the month. some of the troops that flew home yesterday were in that tranche. they were very much a part of the original drawdown plan. admiral vasely saw fit that there was some others that he believed that he didnt need there at the airport anymore even though they had flown in with the...

Those things, which afghanistan needs at a force level of 9,800 than it would be if we wound down faster. so thats one of the reasons. >> i do need to go. see the defense minister on the republic of korea if anybody wants to join us. >> on the drawdown plan, were hearing its not a calendar-based plan. but it sounds like its a plan. im wondering if the commander at the time at the end of 2016 says we dont want to go down to 5,500, how big of a lift would it be to reassess that and let the 9,800 s...

>> reporter: when asked about these cuts today, the army said, quote, the armys drawdown plan is a balanced approach that maintains readiness while trying to minimize turbulence within the officer corps. this isnt the end of the cuts. there are more layoff review boards to come, for soldiers overseas and for those here at home. those let go face daunting statistics, an unemployment rate, a full percentage above their peers, and as one observer told me, now is not exactly the time one wants to be...

Would be over. but if you have 9,800 troops in afghanistan next year, theres going to be still plenty of combat there. so for a lot of these troops, the war might not necessarily be over. >> reporter: well, certainly if the troops come under attack, wolf, the war will not be over for them. but the president insisted during his remarks, hes anticipating some of this criticism, that they will not be serving in combat roles, theyll be serving in advisory and training roles, and in some cases counte...

Strong, army strong. thats a commitment im making to you. >> the president also talked about the drawdown plan in afghanistan in his weekly radio address on saturday. >> next month, the last of the troops i ordered as part of the surge against the taliban will come home. and by 2014, the transition to afghan lead will be complete. but as long as we have a single american in harms way, we will continue to do everything in our power to keep them safe and help them succeed. that means giving them a...

To troops returning to and deploying to afghanistan about the wind-down plan for the war there, and to announce a new executive order meant to ensure that veterans get their mental health claims taken care of. >> i know that you join me in saying to anyone whos ever worn the uniform, if youre hurting, its not a sign of weakness to seek help. its a sign of strength. we are here to help you stay strong, army strong. thats a commitment im making to you. >> the president also talked about the drawdo...

Convention wrapped up, president obama went to ft. bliss, to talk to troops returning from and deploying to afghanistan about the wind-down plan for the war there, and to announce a new executive order meant to ensure that veterans get their mental health claims taken care of. >> i know that you join me in saying to everyone whos ever worn the uniform, if youre hurting, its not a sign of weakness to seek help. its a sign of strength. we are here to help you stay strong, army strong. thats a comm...

sheriff office on the phone with me. cindy? >> yes, it is. >> the standoff going on for hours and hours. when did police finally enter the bunker? >> about 9:15 our s.w.a.t. teams used an explosive in breach the roof that enabled them to get enough had a stru see in. they saw a body. they were able to get in there and find the person that appears -- we believe its keller. appears hes been dead for some time. >> what did it look like inside that bunker? what was in there? >> well, we ha...

in washington state, an arms standoff is over. the suspects body found inside a fortified underground bunker. police think peter keller killed his wife and daughter almost a week ago and holed himself up in a bunker he spent eight years building. i talked with agent cyndi west how the standoff finally ended. >> about 9:15 our s.w.a.t. team used and explosive to breach the roof of the bunker enabling them to get enough of a view where they could see him. they tell us they saw a body, we...

opportunity to do something big. we have a chance to stabilize americas finances for a decade, for 15 years or 20 years. if were willing to seize the moment. what that would require would be some shared sacrifice and a balanced approach that says were going to make significant cuts in domestic spending. and i have already said im willing to take down domestic spending to the lowest percentage of our overall economy since dwight eisenhower. it also requires cuts in defense spending. and...