WASHINGTON - After saying he wanted to reduce U.S. troops in Afghanistan to about 1,000, President Obama has gone along with recommendations of military leaders to keep about 10,000 - mostly Army - soldiers in the country through the rest of his administration.
Maine Sen. Angus King supports that decision. "The original plan was to reduce to about 1,000 people, just in Kabul - a kind of embassy plus situation. I just think that would have squandered all of the progress that has been made," King says.
King says the Afghans have made great progress in stabilizing the nation and expanding educational opportunities, as well as developing the infrastructure to support economic growth. He says right now the Afghan security forces need the help they get from the U.S. to maintain stability.
