Photos: Obama to announce 34,000 troops will come home from Afghanistan

The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  View the list »
Obama announces 34,000 troops to come home from Afghanistan

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Here in San Francisco, news has come in that the troops are coming home. President Obama will announce that 34,000 US troops will be back from Afghanistan within the year.

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"This is terrific news," says San Francisco resident, Janice Marshall. "That announcement will make a lot of people very, very happy."

Here are what some of the news reports are saying. According to ABC 7 News:

"President Barack Obama will announce in his State of the Union address that 34,000 U.S. troops will be home from Afghanistan within a year," two people familiar with his remarks said Tuesday.

"That's about half the U.S. forces currently serving there, and marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends."

Meantime, CNN is saying that the news is very welcome among voters and it's a huge step in helping Afghanistan protect itself:

"A Washington Post poll out Tuesday morning shows that 80% of registered voters support the president's policy to end the war in Afghanistan.

"In January, Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Washington, where they agreed to accelerate the military transition in Afghanistan. Afghan forces will take the lead in combat missions throughout the country starting in spring, instead of midyear as was previously expected."

General John Allen is the one who recommended to Obama the number of troops that should leave and the number that should stay. According to ZeeNews:

"On the eve of his important State of the Union Address, informed sources familiar with the White House deliberations said that US President was weighing in favor of a troop level between 3,000 and 9,000 by end of 2014, when the US-led international forces are scheduled to hand over the country's security to Afghan forces.

"This is said to be the lowest range of the three options recommended by the General John Allen, the former Commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Allen, who handed over his Afghan command on Sunday, is understood to have submitted his recommendations to the White House last month."

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See photos in the slideshow above. Note some readers may find them upsetting.

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  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
  • The number, 34,000, is about half the U.S. forces currently serving in Afghanistan, and it marks the next phase in the administration's plans to formally finish the war by the end of 2014. The U.S. now has 66,000 troops in Afghanistan. down from a peak of about 100,000 as recently as 2010. The U.S. is still finalizing plans for the size and scope of its military presence after the war ends.  
View the list
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, SF Top News Examiner

Sheila O'Connor is a freelance travel and news writer who lives in San Francisco. When not traveling the globe and discovering all things new or ancient, Sheila is at home with her one child (2 are in college) and one cat. Sheila is originally from Scotland and has the accent to prove it.

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