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Officials: US to keep higher level of troops in Afghanistan

By Associated Press
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FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks to troops at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to mili

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks to troops at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say.

Jacquelyn Martin, File, Associated Press
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FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2014, file photo, a U.S. solider stands guard at the site of a suicide attack near a U.S. military camp in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 b

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2014, file photo, a U.S. solider stands guard at the site of a suicide attack near a U.S. military camp in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say. Officials say President Barack Obama probably will use a Washington visit by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this month as the time to announce his decision on a new withdrawal timeline.

Massoud Hossaini, File, Associated Press
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The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say. FILE - In this

The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say. FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2015 file photo, Afghan security police stand guard at checkpoint in Helmand province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan.

Abdul Khaliq, File, Associated Press
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FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015, file photo, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks with U.S. military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by y

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015, file photo, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks with U.S. military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say. Officials say President Barack Obama probably will use a Washington visit by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this month as the time to announce his decision on a new withdrawal timeline. In recent weeks, Pentagon leaders, including Carter, have acknowledged the discussions about slowing the pace of troop withdrawal

Jonathan Ernst, Pool, File, Associated Press
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FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2014, file photo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to m

FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2014, file photo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say. Officials say President Barack Obama probably will use a Washington visit by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this month as the time to announce his decision on a new withdrawal timeline.

Rahmat Gul, File, Associated Press
5 of 5
FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks to troops at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to mili
FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2014, file photo, a U.S. solider stands guard at the site of a suicide attack near a U.S. military camp in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 b
The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say. FILE - In this
FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2015, file photo, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks with U.S. military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by y
FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2014, file photo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year’s end, bowing to m

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say the Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year's end.

It's a bow to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season.

No final decision on numbers has been made. But the officials say the administration is poised to slow withdrawal plans and probably will allow many of the 9,800 American troops to remain well into next year.

There also are discussions about keeping a steady number of counterterrorism troops into 2015, including having some remain in the country or be nearby beyond 2016.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly before final decisions have been made.

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