U.S. hints it may rethink Afghan plans
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is suggesting it could reconsider its plan to remove nearly all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2016.
Jeff Eggers of the White House’s National Security Council says the U.S. still intends to pursue its withdrawal strategy, which calls for a U.S. security cooperation office in Kabul beyond 2016 but no major troop presence.
But Eggers left open the possibility that could change. He says the post-2016 plan will be considered on an ongoing basis.
Current plans call for a U.S. drawdown to 5,500 troops by year’s end. The Obama administration has said previously it might slow the pace of withdrawal, but until now has shown no inclination to go beyond 2016.
Boehner to visit Israeli prime miniter
WASHINGTON – House Speaker John Boehner is heading to Israel as already strained relations between the White House and newly re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit a new low this week.
On the surface, the Republican leader’s announcement Friday that he’ll visit Israel looks like a jab at the White House.
But a congressional aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, insisted Boehner’s trip – during the two-week congressional recess that begins March 30 – was planned before new rifts developed over Netanyahu’s address to Congress and the prime minister’s remarks this week about the peace process.
Associated press
