{"id":18040,"date":"2020-11-17T21:33:31","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T21:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/17\/afghanistan-iraq-drawdowns-get-mixed-reaction-in-congress\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:39:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:39:09","slug":"afghanistan-iraq-drawdowns-get-mixed-reaction-in-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2020\/11\/17\/afghanistan-iraq-drawdowns-get-mixed-reaction-in-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan, Iraq drawdowns get mixed reaction in Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 Tuesday\u2019s announcemen<\/a>t of upcoming sharp drawdowns of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in Iraq drew mixed reaction from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, with Republican and Democratic critics both warning that abrupt changes could lead to instability in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a right way and a wrong way to do this. President [Donald] Trump is once again choosing the wrong way,\u201d Senate Armed Service Committee ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in a statement following the announcement. \u201cWe can\u2019t let U.S. national security and our relationships with steadfast partners become a casualty of President Trump\u2019s wounded ego,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday afternoon, acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller<\/a> said the U.S. will draw down<\/a> its troop levels to 2,500 in both Iraq and Afghanistan by Jan. 15. Currently, about 4,500 troops are deployed to Afghanistan and 3,000 in Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National security adviser Robert O\u2019Brien later told reporters that the White House hopes all troops will be withdrawn from both countries by next May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFour years ago, President Trump ran on a promise to put a stop to America\u2019s endless wars,\u201d O\u2019Brien told reporters. \u201cToday, as was just announced at the Pentagon, he is keeping that promise to the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t