The White House on Monday said that an announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama on the “scope” of the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan is expected to come “soon.” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that Obama will make an announcement that will outline the “pace and scope of the drawdown” that is set to begin next month, adding that the decision will be made following continued consultation with his national security team. The U.S. has “no desire to stay there any longer than necessary,” the spokesman said, specifying that the goal is to soon begin the transfer of power to the Afghan security authority, and then eventually to full Afghan authority in 2014.
