Obama, in shift, says he will keep 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2017WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, calling Afghanistan’s security situation precarious, said on Wednesday he will keep U.S. troop levels there at 8,400 through the end of his administration rather than reducing them to 5,500 by year’s end as previously planned. Obama, in a statement at the White House, said the role of U.S. forces in Afghanistan will remain unchanged: training and advising Afghan police and troops, and supporting counterterrorism missions against the Taliban and other groups. Obama’s presidency ends in January. Obama’s plan still calls for a reduction in U.S. troop levels from the current roughly 9,800, but not as much as previously planned. Obama, who took office in 2009 pledging to wind down the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he had ended America’s combat mission in Afghanistan. But he acknowledged that security concerns persist. “The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious,” Obama said. “The Taliban remains a threat. They’ve gained ground in some places.” Taliban forces now hold more territory in Afghanistan than at any time since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, according to recent United Nations estimates. The Islamic State group has also established a small presence in Afghanistan. Obama’s decision, which came after a review submitted last month by the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson, drew some criticism inside and outside his administration. Some Pentagon officials said that it does nothing to address the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. “It’s disappointing that the administration thinks that troop numbers are a substitute for a more comprehensive strategy,” said a U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This is neither the reduction that the White House seems to have wanted nor the current numbers that don’t seem to be sufficient to deal with the security problem.” Mac Thornberry, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, criticized what he said was a new cap on U.S. troop levels. “It is time that the president level with the American people about what it will really take to achieve our goals in Afghanistan, and how much it will cost,” Thornberry said in a statement.  Obama spoke in advance of a NATO summit on Friday and Saturday in Warsaw, Poland, where alliance members are expected to confirm their support for the Kabul government. In addition to the U.S. forces, there are about 3,000 other international troops in Afghanistan. U.S. troops have been in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion launched by Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, that toppled the Taliban leaders who harbored the al Qaeda organization responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States that killed about 3,000 people. It is America’s longest war. During his announcement at the White House, Obama was flanked by Defense Secretary Ash Carter and the top U.S. military officer, General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. politicsNews
obama shift says keep troops afghanistan reuters president barack obama calling afghanistan security situation precarious said wednesday keep troop levels end administration rather reducing year end previously planned obama statement white house said role forces afghanistan remain unchanged training advising afghan police troops supporting counterterrorism missions taliban groups obama presidency ends january obama plan still calls reduction troop levels current roughly much previously planned obama took office pledging wind wars iraq afghanistan said ended america combat mission afghanistan but acknowledged security concerns persist the security situation afghanistan remains precarious obama said the taliban remains threat they gained ground taliban forces hold territory afghanistan time since invasion according recent united nations estimates the islamic state group also established small presence afghanistan obama decision came review submitted last month commander afghanistan army general john nichols drew criticism inside outside administration some pentagon officials said nothing address deteriorating security situation afghanistan it disappointing administration thinks troop numbers substitute comprehensive strategy said defense official spoke condition anonymity this neither reduction white house seems wanted current numbers seem sufficient deal security mac thornberry republican chairman house representatives armed services committee criticized said new cap troop levels it time president level american people really take achieve goals afghanistan much cost thornberry said statement obama spoke advance nato summit friday saturday warsaw poland alliance members expected confirm support kabul government in addition forces international troops afghanistan troops afghanistan since invasion launched obama predecessor george bush toppled taliban leaders harbor al qaeda organization responsible attacks united states killed people it america longest war during announcement white house obama flanked defense secretary ash carter top military officer general joe unfold chairman joint chiefs staff politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Obama, in shift, says he will keep 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2017WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, calling Afghanistan’s security situation precarious, said on Wednesday he will keep U.S. troop levels there at 8,400 through the end of his administration rather than reducing them to 5,500 by year’s end as previously planned. Obama, in a statement at the White House, said the role of U.S. forces in Afghanistan will remain unchanged: training and advising Afghan police and troops, and supporting counterterrorism missions against the Taliban and other groups. Obama’s presidency ends in January. Obama’s plan still calls for a reduction in U.S. troop levels from the current roughly 9,800, but not as much as previously planned. Obama, who took office in 2009 pledging to wind down the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he had ended America’s combat mission in Afghanistan. But he acknowledged that security concerns persist. “The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious,” Obama said. “The Taliban remains a threat. They’ve gained ground in some places.” Taliban forces now hold more territory in Afghanistan than at any time since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, according to recent United Nations estimates. The Islamic State group has also established a small presence in Afghanistan. Obama’s decision, which came after a review submitted last month by the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson, drew some criticism inside and outside his administration. Some Pentagon officials said that it does nothing to address the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. “It’s disappointing that the administration thinks that troop numbers are a substitute for a more comprehensive strategy,” said a U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This is neither the reduction that the White House seems to have wanted nor the current numbers that don’t seem to be sufficient to deal with the security problem.” Mac Thornberry, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, criticized what he said was a new cap on U.S. troop levels. “It is time that the president level with the American people about what it will really take to achieve our goals in Afghanistan, and how much it will cost,” Thornberry said in a statement.  Obama spoke in advance of a NATO summit on Friday and Saturday in Warsaw, Poland, where alliance members are expected to confirm their support for the Kabul government. In addition to the U.S. forces, there are about 3,000 other international troops in Afghanistan. U.S. troops have been in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion launched by Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, that toppled the Taliban leaders who harbored the al Qaeda organization responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States that killed about 3,000 people. It is America’s longest war. During his announcement at the White House, Obama was flanked by Defense Secretary Ash Carter and the top U.S. military officer, General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: obama shift says keep troops afghanistan reuters president barack obama calling afghanistan security situation precarious said wednesday keep troop levels end administration rather reducing year end previously planned obama statement white house said role forces afghanistan remain unchanged training advising afghan police troops supporting counterterrorism missions taliban groups obama presidency ends january obama plan still calls reduction troop levels current roughly much previously planned obama took office pledging wind wars iraq afghanistan said ended america combat mission afghanistan but acknowledged security concerns persist the security situation afghanistan remains precarious obama said the taliban remains threat they gained ground taliban forces hold territory afghanistan time since invasion according recent united nations estimates the islamic state group also established small presence afghanistan obama decision came review submitted last month commander afghanistan army general john nichols drew criticism inside outside administration some pentagon officials said nothing address deteriorating security situation afghanistan it disappointing administration thinks troop numbers substitute comprehensive strategy said defense official spoke condition anonymity this neither reduction white house seems wanted current numbers seem sufficient deal security mac thornberry republican chairman house representatives armed services committee criticized said new cap troop levels it time president level american people really take achieve goals afghanistan much cost thornberry said statement obama spoke advance nato summit friday saturday warsaw poland alliance members expected confirm support kabul government in addition forces international troops afghanistan troops afghanistan since invasion launched obama predecessor george bush toppled taliban leaders harbor al qaeda organization responsible attacks united states killed people it america longest war during announcement white house obama flanked defense secretary ash carter top military officer general joe unfold chairman joint chiefs staff politicsnews