LOC20:40
17:40 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 18 (KUNA) -- U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden on Sunday said
at least 2,000 American troops may exit Afghanistan early next year.
In an interview on ABCs "This Week", Biden said the total number of troops
leaving Afghanistan in the first phase of a U.S. drawdown strategy, set to
kick-off early next year, remained uncertain.
"It could be as few as a couple of thousand of troops; it could be more."
Noting there will be more than 100,000 U.S. troops there a year from now,
Biden said the situation would be assessed across Afghanistan and troop
withdrawals would begin where circumstances allow.
Meanwhile, Biden called the process of training Afghanistan security forces
to take over for U.S. forces as "painfully slow and difficult." However,
"there will be a transition," he insisted.
Biden says it is too early to judge whether the U.S. strategy in
Afghanistan will succeed, but he speaks of progress. (end)
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KUNA 182040 Jul 10NNNN