U.S. President Barack Obama unveils plan withdraw troops

U.S. President Barack Obama has proclaimed that he will withdraw 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the middle of next year. In a nationally televised address from the East Room of the White House, Obama said 10,000 forces will be withdrawn by the end of the year and the other 23,000 troops will leave Afghanistan by September 2012.

After the 33,000 troops have been withdrawn there will still be roughly 70,000 until the combat mission in Afghanistan is over. The mission in Afghanistan is planned to end in 2014.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that the decision has no affect on Australia’s mission in Afghanistan.

Obama said that U.S. troops still need to work hard to hold on to the territory which they have gained whilst fighting.