1 of 2 | Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of NATO and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan, gives a soldier assigned to Forward Operating Base Ghazni a thump on his body armor as he thanked him for his service and sacrifice on August 15, 2011. (UPI/Michael O'Conner/USAF) |
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"Assuming a BSA is signed, at the beginning of 2015, we will have 9,800 U.S. service members in different parts of the country, together with our NATO allies and other partners. By the end of 2015, we would reduce that presence by roughly half, consolidating U.S. troops in Kabul and on Bagram Airfield. And one year later, by the end of 2016, we will draw down to a normal Embassy presence with a security assistance office in Kabul, as we have done in Iraq," said the senior administration official."