A bit later now theyre heading straight to the pentagon. Lets listen to the pentagon and to bring our brave Service Members home from kabul to kandahar and from mosul to flu, hundreds of thousands of americas finest sons and daughters who selflessly answered the call. To serve in the army, navy, air force, marine corps, and coast guard have brought us to this point. Their efforts and sacrifice will go down in history as a pit in my eyes, in the strength of commitment and empathy of a force that is unlike any the world has ever seen. Just last night, i joined Vice President mike pence and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general milley to attend the dignified transfer of 5 american soldiers who perished on duty in the middle east. This was a somber and humbling moment. That reminded us of the tremendous sacrifices made by the men and women of the United States military in service of freedom and security. Our armed forces take an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States. They serve not for personal gain, but for the protection and well being of their fellow americans and their homeland. They are champions for peace, liberty, and the rule of law and unrelenting when called upon to defend our people and our values, we owe them and their loved ones, an enormous debt of gratitude. This is why i am enormously blessed and privileged to stand before you today to outline the next phase of our campaign to defeat terrorists who perpetrated attacks on our homeland, including those who help and harbor them, and to prevent, prevent future acts of terrorism against our nation we owe this moment to the many patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice and their comrades who Carry Forward their legacy. Together. We have mourn the loss of more than 6900 american troops who gave their lives in afghanistan and iraq. And we will never forget the more than 52000, who bear the wounds of war, and all those who still carry it scars visible and invisible. In light of these tremendous sacrifices, and with great humility and gratitude to those who came before us, i am formally announcing that we will implement President Trumps orders to continue our repositioning of forces from those 2 countries by january 15th, 2001. Excuse me, clearly im thinking of where this started in 2001 by january 15th, 2021, our forces, their size in afghanistan will be 2500 troops or 4 sides in iraq will also be 2500 by that same date. This is consistent with our established plans and strategic objectives. Supported by the American People and does not equate to a change in u. S. Policy or objectives. Moreover, this decision by the president is based on continuous engagement with his National Security cabinet over the past several months, including ongoing discussions with me and my colleagues across the United States government. I have also spoken with our military commanders, and we all will execute this repositioning in a way that protects our fighting men and women, our partners in the Intelligence Community and diplomatic corps, and are superb allies that are critical to rebuilding afghan and Iraqi Security capabilities. And Civil Society for a lasting peace in troubled lands. And just this morning, i spoke with key leaders in congress, as well as our allies and partners abroad to update them on these plans in light of our shared approach. We went in together, were just together and when the time is right we will leave together. One of my calls was to nato secretary general stoltenberg. Another was to afghanistans president danny, who expressed his gratitude for every American Service member who has fought for peace and strength in the long standing friendship between our countries. President ghani, highlighted the caliber of our troops, which he noted has always been more important than the quantity we continue to stand with him as his Government Works toward a negotiated settlement for peace. Meanwhile, let us remind those who question our resolve or may seek to interfere with this prudent well planned and coordinated transition. The United States armed forces remain committed to protecting the safety and security of the American People and supporting our like minded allies and partners worldwide. If the forces of terror, instability, division, and hate begin a deliberate campaign to disrupt our efforts, we stand ready to apply the capabilities required to thwart them. As a veteran whose life and family was irrevocably changed in the deserts, mountains and cities of iraq and afghanistan, along with the hundreds of thousands of u. S. Troops who have fought there and were forever transformed by their experiences. I celebrate this day as we continue the president s consistent progress in completing the mission we began nearly 2 decades ago. I want to thank the afghans and iraqis who have partnered with us throughout and who now carry the bulk of the fighting to secure their homelands. I want to thank our nato allies and other partners who fought alongside us and taken the lead on training and advising the afghan and Iraqi Security forces. We will continue to support their efforts. And thanks to our more than 80 partners in the defeat isis coalition, we have destroyed the isis caliphate and will ensure they never again gain a foothold to attack our people. In closing, we set out to accomplish 3 goals in 2001. 1st, go abroad and destroy terrorists their organizations and their sanctuaries to strengthen our defenses against future attacks. And 3, prevent the continued growth of islamic terrorism to include by working with allies and local partners to take the lead in the fight. Today is another critical step in that direction. In a result, the President Trumps bold leadership with the blessings of providence. In the coming year, we will finish this generational war and bring our men and women home. We will protect our children from the heavy burden and toll of perpetual war, and we will honor the sacrifices made in service to peace and stability in afghanistan, iraq, and around the world. And celebrate all those who helped us secure freedom over oppression. God bless our women and men in uniform. Thank you very much thought were going to do what your listeners are going to know where our are going through. Right . So we had a formal announcement there from the pentagon, that 2 and a half 1000 troops will remain in afghanistan and iraq in january of next year. So thats in just a couple of months time. Now, reports suggest that this decision was opposed by top military officials. Of course, a decision that would have been approved by a u. S. President on what was actually opposed by senior military leaders and senior officials, particularly in afghanistan. Given that there is a very sensitive situation there with ongoing talks and negotiations, taking place between the taliban and the afghan government. Now those talks have faced a number of obstacles. In fact, they have pretty much ground to a halt in stalemate. But at the same time, Violent Attacks in afghanistan on the right of the has been some concern about what the troop withdrawal about the effect that it could have on the country. But of course, President Trump did campaign on ending the u. S. Military presence of broad in iraq and afghanistan. He campaigned on that pledge in 2016. And of this, this troop withdrawal comes at the end of his time in power. So lets speak to a white house course when it can really help its in washington. Not whats been the reaction. There can be particularly among pentagon officials and republicans in congress. This was anticipated and already in advance of this announcement, there was pushback because Top Republicans, including mitch mcconnell, the Top Republican in the u. S. Senate saying that this is really going to affect not only the ongoing peace efforts in negotiations in afghanistan with regard to the taliban of course, those negotiations taking place in doha, but also the fact that there is concern this could affect u. S. National security in terms of its counterterrorism efforts. And we should also point out that this is some of the same advice that was given to the u. S. President from top officials in the pentagon. But whats notable about this is the fact that the president just last week in fact, put in place a number of loyalists at the pentagon in order to push this through that share his thinking, this perpetual war. As you heard, discussed there, this is something, as you mentioned, that donald trump campaigned on in 2016 ending these endless wars as he called them. But even his critics will note that this announcement falls short of that goal as well. So it appears the president trying to make good on that, but not quite meeting the mark because as we heard there, well there is going to be a reduction in forces. This is not a complete withdrawal. This will still have a small troop player as president in terms of numbers in iraq as well as afghanistan. So this is going to be met with a lot of criticism because it doesnt seem to please the pentagon officials, it doesnt please the politicians on capitol hill. And it also falls short of what the president promised to voters back 4 years ago. Right. So why the rush to go ahead with this . Well, its clear that the president is trying to sort of preserve his legacy if you will. Hes thinking about what he can do in the final days, but some might argue that what this is going to do is leave president elect biden, who will become the new commander in chief with a bit of a conundrum. In terms of moving forward, this could exacerbate the situation on the ground and lead to having to bring troops back. This is something that the American Public may not have the appetite for, not only because of the heavy toll in terms of casualties, whether it be those that have been injured or of lost, their lives in the 10s of thousands or just the sheer price tag given the fact that the United States is in economic trouble due to cope with 19 there simply isnt the funding that was available a generation ago when all of this started. So this is certainly going to leave the u. S. President incoming joe biden with a bit of a problem on his hand. So many people wondering if this is even vindictive in nature, but the president has said hes very supportive of the troops. He said, even before the u. S. Election in october, that he hoped to have soldiers home by christmas time, it appears he is at least for training. This is a goodwill gesture. Whether or not it is strategic interest is one that will certainly be debated for days to come in. Washington, thanks very much from washington. D. C. Kimberly, how can i White House Correspondent so mona fulton joins us live now from the iraqi capital baghdad. And as kimberly was saying, very National Security officials voicing their concern about the impact it could have on iraq. And particularly as we saw in 2011 when u. S. Troops pulled out and the feeling is that that sort of vacuum led to the rise of isis. And even if this decision doesnt have much of an effect on the ground, it does send a Strong Political message. Well, actually it is. The announcement is not exactly significant in light of the drawdown graph already happened over the past few months. If we go back to earlier this year, there were 5000 u. S. Troops stationed in iraq. That number has gone down to 3000 as of september, the big fear. And those are duction to cooperate in the wake of parliamentary vote here in iraq to go out to all of the foreign troops following. d the assassination of iranian general conference for the money, as well as iraq of the children of corporal because of the coronavirus pandemic for decreasing the troops from 30022500 is not that big of a step really, but it remains to be seen what the impact will be on the u. S. Led coalition here because of course, the u. S. Troops make up the biggest bulk of the coalition to provide intelligence to provide air support and surveillance. They also have a small contingent of special forces that sometimes accompany iraqi troops on operations against i turn up. They also provide an important logistical backbone and force protection for the other member countries. So we have to wait for the reaction of we have a Coalition Members and of course the Iraqi Government officials to see what the reaction might be. But it was regards to what you mention about 2011. We are, we have a very different situation on the ground in iraq today in 2011 there was a different government in place. The u. S. Troops play a much more Important Role at that time, their number 150 stout. But a great cause are much more capable in carrying out their mandate for even if the troops were to leave in a diary that its so its on purpose. What about what has the same creating the security vacuum that we saw in 2011. But, of course, any kind of drawdown in troops who are in a coalition of partners and will of course lead for example, to what is your European Countries to reconsider whether theyre very personal in iraq. Its a favorable thanks very much. A apologies for the quality of the sound. Theyre not line. Oh, i want to move on to other stories that were following this hour. And of course, were closely monitoring the situation. If yo pos, the government says troops have achieved significant victories in the conflict with forces in the northern tigray region. The National Army is carried out as strikes near the regions main city of macallan, a. Its the primary base for the to great Peoples Liberation. Frontal t. P. L. F. , which governs that to grain rebels have refused to give in to government demands to put down their weapons. The u. N. And foreign leaders of called for mediation, a request which has been largely ignored by both sides. And as most soldiers move in, civilians are continuing to flee. An estimated 27000 people have crossed the border into neighboring sudan. Refugees who are no arriving in the piece of 4000 per day. Are coming out of if you release of relieved. Well, with the stories saying that there have been fleeing the fighting and that is not a sign of the fight, the 2 stroke, right mo, the fear is as the fighting continues, we could see more refugees arriving the number of 307000 or more than that is what we just give it will reach 30000 and beyond. Mamet had been following developments from the capital, addis ababa, ethiopia Prime Minister, but is promising a crucial and decisive face in the fighting in the gray region overall from ethiopia. He says his forces are now were ready to take the city of mechanic up with all of the to get a region. He made that announcement of to the expiry of a 30 day deadline here, given to degree fighters to surrender themselves to the Ethiopian National defense forces. Security sources have told and visit of the next 48 hours will be crucial as the European Forces launch a tux on mechanic for multiple fronts. The sources say that the fighting is expected to get more intense. That European Forces near the mountainous areas surrounding the couple of the to go to a region, macallan that degrade Peoples Liberation front leadership in the conflict with the government in the suburb say that they had a baby to defend their positions to the last month. Have been complaining about civilians getting hot in aesthetics carried out by Government Forces in mcculloch. Something that has been rejected and refuted by the government in a disability. Late last week, the t. P. A. Live fight to send up to 3 missiles across the border to us mara, the cup with all of it, a tray, or something diplomats say could bring in a trip into the fighting. But the tibial of leadership maintains that they are already fighting at a tree and forces on the ground and say that up to 16 divisions of the trim forces present and helping Prime Minister its forces. Something that is of a body of nice for me, a bit more on that announcement from the u. S. That u. S. President ronald trump, making the decision to shop. He would use the number of u. S. Forces in iraq and afghanistan with respect to afghanistan. And u. S. Forces will be reduced from 4 and a half 100228 half 1000, and this is set to take effect before he leaves office. Well video, contra furry is live for us in the Afghan Capital kabul, as ive been much of a reaction that there are 2. There isnt because its almost midnight here in kabul in the Afghan Capital. So afghans will be waking up to the news tomorrow morning and its something that it has been largely input has made it here because all the signs and the indicators were there for days. Now, a lot of people here that he knew it was a decision that was coming, but there were still so many who are trying to also warn the trumpet, ministration against the citizens here. And it could come of that shock that it happened so abruptly and specially after were hard on nato comments earlier today. Also warning against hasty withdraw otoh. There should be a lot of reaction here tomorrow, both from a government also probably thought from ah, but hard done. And i can tell you that this day, that all theres indications with there that the children would come. There has been a sense of abandonment and anger among a lot of afghans who now believe theyre wondering why does the United States to, you know, deal with this withdrawal. So abruptly and so fast at a time when the peace talks are not going well. Calm with the violence has reached all armies, levels all across the country. So we have to wait until tomorrow exactly what the mood will be here to cover what their reaction will be. Thanks from kabul for their country for a and now and now on the news are covering the chief executives of facebook and twitter have appeared before members of the u. S. Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions about social media and the president ial elections. Its the 2nd hearing in 2 months. It was called by republican senator Lindsey Graham in october when the social Networks Limited the reach of a New York Post article critical of us president elect joe biden of company say they restricted the article because it contained false and leaks material. Mark zuckerberg and jack dorsey, again questioned on how their companies handle misinformation and election related posts. We made a quick interpretation using no other evidence that the materials in the article, were seen through. And according to our o. C. , we blocked them from being spread. Further consideration. We needed this action was wrong and corrected it within 24 hours. I hope this source reads the rush now under actions, demonstrators are believed to be but move the stakes and the changes all terms very well to a public. I believe this was the largest Election Integrity effort by any private company in recent times. This is what people expect of us, and im glad that from what weve seen so far. Our systems performed well. Election interference remains an ongoing threat that will never fully be solved. So we continue to improve with each watch. But our integrity work is really only half the story. We also ran an unprecedented silicon gauge went program to encourage people to take part in our democracy. Now at least 18 migrants have been killed and Dozens Injured when the engine of a boat exploded in the north atlantic. See happening at cape verde, off the western coast of africa. About 150 people thought to be on board at the time, mainly from senegal and gambia. Its believed the vessel is making its way to spain. I think as been following this from dakar in senegal and says that spanish authorities are struggling to cope with the influx of migrants. Early this morning, the cat bird in coast guard were alerted by fishermen that there was a fishing vessel that exploded on board were not fish, but schumanns that were on their way to the Canary Islands. When the iraq on the scene, they saw men, women, children holding on to plastic barrels normally used to contain food. Now the vessel exploded in, obviously its not made to carry humans. It has happened before the vessels Fishing Vessels explode because they dont have enough fuel to travel for such long distances. It was on its way to the Canary Island, where this year alone, 17000, african, west, african migrants have come to the Canary Islands seeking asylum. These are not migrants fleeing war, but looking for economic opportunities. Many of them come from senegal, gambia or even morocco, and the mayor of this town. Our green green on the Canary Island says that theyre held in camps because in camps of shame because they have little access to running water. There rats, he says that are, there are cases of coronavirus. Now the spanish authorities are not allowing the media to enter those camps. There are so many migrants in his town. Thats normally a resort town for tourists that hotels normally filled by tourists are now being used by migrant that are waiting for their papers to be processed. What to turn to developments in thailand now because protesters there have been rallying in front of the parliament in bangkok as lawmakers consider changes to the constitution. Demonstrations calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister prime of chant sharon, the reformation of the countrys monica have been going on since july. On tuesday, protesters supporting the king clashed with the antigovernment, demonstrators. Brings us more now from those protests just outside the parliament. On this main avenue right in front of parliament here in bangkok now is flooded with antigovernment protesters, but just a few hours before they came in here, there were rows and rows of riot police as well as water cannon. Thats because the antigovernment protesters came here to parliament as there are drafts to the constitution being read today and on wednesday. So they staged protests on this side as well as the other side of parliament. But just before sunset, the police again, the rows and rows of riot police were treated down that street. Now what made it interesting is it pro banner case . The yellow shirts had a rally earlier in the day because they were the constitution to stay as it is. They were down to this street now there was a barricade and right, we separated them. But once there was that retreat, they confronted each other, both sides of this divide if you will. Thats the 1st time weve really seen kind of a face to face pretty violent confrontation bottles were thrown stones and bricks were thrown. Since this protest Movement Really kind of mushroom in july, thats the 1st time we saw that. But luckily it only lasted about 1015 minutes. And now the etiquette of protesters are accurate. Fine. The street right in front of parliament over here another reality. Another day of session though, reviewing these drafts to the constitution again, they want the changes, the antigovernment protesters, but the, the monocacy want things to stay. The way they are now to see at least 35. 00 civilians have been killed in an attack on 2 villages in the democratic republic of congo. It happened in beni, in the countrys northeast. The attack began on monday night and continued into the morning. Its believed rebels from the Ugandan Allied Democratic forces are responsible is pushing across Central America after making landfall in nicaragua, in a record breaking year for atlantic. Is the 1st to reach category 5 status and the 2nd major hearkened to hit the region this month. Tens of thousands of people have been forced into shelters as charlotte palace has mall. Wow. Central america is facing its 2nd major hurricane in as many weeks. This is nicaragua as hurricane iosa approach landfall. A storm surge of up to 6 meters and winds of 250 kilometers an hour battered northern beaches yet to come. But again, this is the 5th hurricane ive seen in my life. And its one of the strongest and most destructive hurricanes weve ever seen. Iosa made landfall in nicaragua, just 25 kilometers from where hurricane rita struck. 2 weeks ago. It killed more than 120 people resilience traumatized by eater flood. Again, most of them want to put, you know, how you know that we are asking people to help us take our things to another place, please. Were asking them to take us to where its safe because its not safe here. Im afraid for my life ios, across the caribbean as a category 5 hurricane. Its the strongest storm ever recorded in the atlantic. This late in the year, records began in 851 iota, 1st pushed over the colombian islands of san andres and providence. Here its the most powerful storm to ever, his colombian territory, the devastation there is a mere africa. There is maximum damage to the infrastructure. Were talking about 98 percent of the infrastructure on the island of providence. Here being ruined, i am sure is expected to move next to honduras and guatemala, soaking the already sort and track of hurricane rita. There. President s joined forces to ask for Financial Aid with the Economic Forecast just as dire as it has been sent to verify it. And seeing it in practice and Central America and ungenerous among the regions in the world most affected by Climate Change. We have have a problem. Countries know that due to the industries that they are the greatest to marriages of Climate Change effects. So they have green funds available, but its extremely difficult for us to access the funding for the 2028 led to Hurricane Season has seen the most named storms on record. So mean that meteorologists ran out of names from the city list. People across Central America hopeful iosa is the last one of the shell of dallas. 0. U. K. And u. S. Have signed an aviation deal to ensure flights across the atlantic continue in 2021. The arrangement will replace whats currently covered by an agreement with the you. After britains transition period to leave the bloc and tens of millions of passengers travel between the countries every year contributing towards a trade relationship worth over 300000000000. 00. Just want to recap our top story. This hour, the new u. S. Defense secretary has announced a slashing of the countrys troops in afghanistan and iraq. Christopher miller said the number of u. S. Troops in afghanistan will be nearly hard from the present total of 4 and a half 1000. While the number in iraq will be cut by 500. 00 is that the reduction was government policy. And what the American Public expected by january 15th 2021, our forces their size in afghanistan