The U.S.
won't be leaving Afghanistan anytime soon. President Obama is expected to announce that he'll be keeping 5,500 troops in the country until 2017:
The president’s decision came after an “extensive months-long review” that included regular discussions with Afghanistan’s leaders, his national security team and U.S. commanders in the field, a senior administration official said.
Obama will also slow the pace of the reduction of American forces and plans to maintain the current U.S. force of 9,800 through “most of 2016,” said the official, who spoke anonymously to preview the president’s announcement.
Obama is scheduled to speak at 11 ET.
8:15 AM PT (Barbara Morrill): In remarks delivered moments ago, President Obama said that American forces are not engaged in combat operations in Afghanistan, "but our commitment to Afghanistan and its people endures." With that in mind, he announced the following steps for a "lasting progress."
1.) Maintain 9,800 troops throughout most of next year with two narrow tasks: training Afghans and going after al qaeda
2.) Instead of a normal embassy presence, will maintain 5,500 troops at a small number of bases.
3.) Will work with allies and partners (42 nations) in this endeavor.
4.) Will continue to support President Ghani and the Afghan government.