President Trump to Issue Order For Reduction of Troops in Middle East

A new order by President Trump is expected to withdraw more troops from the Middle East in a matter of months. The executive order is being drawn up but has yet to be sent out. The president previously said he wants “all troops home by Christmas” and intends to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan from 5,000 down to 2,500. In Iraq, he also hopes to cut the numbers from 3,000 to 2,500. As of now, the new withdrawal order should conclude by mid-January, just days before President-elect Biden’s inauguration. However, President Trump is coming up against strong opposition. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as well as top military officials, including former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, have warned against the idea. They do not believe certain conditions have been met to allow for a quick transition. They also fear peace negotiations could be undermined. But these concerns have not dissuaded President trump who still plans to issue the formal order as soon as this week.