Drawdown Plan News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

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 didn't need there at the airport anymore even though they had flown in with the plus-up for the neo. these are headquarter staff personnel, maintainers and other enabling forces ...

Those things, which afghanistan needs at a force level of 9,800 than it would be if we wound down faster. so that's 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, we're hearing it's not a calendar-based plan. but it sounds like it's a plan. i'm wondering if the commander at the time at the end of 2016 says we don't want to go down to 5,500, how big of a lift would it be to reassess that and let the 9,800 stay?

>> reporter: when asked about these cuts today, the army said, quote, the army's drawdown plan is a balanced approach that maintains readiness while trying to minimize turbulence within the officer corps. this isn't 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 counting on the v.a. for anything. in washington, leland vittard, fox news. coming up on this s...

Would be over. but if you have 9,800 troops in afghanistan next year, there's 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, he's anticipating some of this criticism, that they will not be serving in combat roles, they'll be serving in advisory and training roles, and in some cases counterterrorism roles. i think what we heard the president say that's important to stress, that afghan...

Strong, army strong. that's a commitment i'm 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 harm's way, we will continue to do everything in our power to keep them safe and help them succeed. that means giving them a clear mission and the equipment they need on the front lines. but it also means taking care of o...