LIVE: Trump's new Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller in the Pentagon briefing room announcing changes to counterterrorism operations defense.gov/Watch/Live-Eve…
BREAKING: Pentagon announces it will carry out Trump order that by Jan 15, 2021, US force sizes in Afghanistan and Iraq will be 2,500 each, announces Acting SecDef Chris Miller. Claims not a change in policy.
Miller says this morning he met with/called key leaders in Congress and allies, incl NATO's Stoltenberg and Afghan Pres Ghani.
Once upon a time Senate Republicans lost their damn minds if Obama HINTED at reducing forces based on a political timeline instead of actual security conditions on the ground.
Once upon a time before Trump...
Once upon a time before Trump...
"Today is... a result of President Trump's bold leadership" says Miller.
Acting SecDef Miller reads his statement and then swiftly walks -- almost runs -- away from the Pentagon press corps.
JUST STUNNING. Acting SecDef Miller said:
- No case why this drawdown is justified now
- No case how this improves US security
- No evidence that threats from Afghanistan and Iraq have changed or lessened
- No mission given for the remaining 2,500 troops
- Which units
- Timetable
- No case why this drawdown is justified now
- No case how this improves US security
- No evidence that threats from Afghanistan and Iraq have changed or lessened
- No mission given for the remaining 2,500 troops
- Which units
- Timetable
Inhofe issues baldly double-sided statement: "we must ensure that our strategy and posture reflect the conditions on the ground"... but Trump's "military strategy has always reflected conditions on the ground, rather than being tied to an arbitrary calendar like his predecessor." 
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