Bedugul Coffee: News Alert: Obama reportedly flips on plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

BREAKING NEWS

Thursday October 15, 2015

Report: Obama To Announce End To Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Plan

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 14: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during PBS's In Performance at the White House event in the East Room of the White House October 14, 2015 in Washington, D.C, The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act. (Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

Pool via Getty Images

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior administration officials say President Barack Obama will keep 5,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan when he leaves office in 2017.

Obama's decision casts aside his promise to end the war on his watch and instead ensures he hands the conflict off to his successor.

Obama had originally planned to pull out all but a small, embassy-based U.S. military presence by the end of next year, a timeline coinciding with the final weeks of his presidency. But military leaders argued for months that the Afghans needed additional assistance and support from the U.S. in order to beat back a resurgent Taliban and hold onto gains made over the last 14 years.

The president is expected to announce the changes Thursday morning from the White House.