the old john mccain puppet. the puppet's take on illegal immigrants and wildfires later in the show. let's get to the news live at 5:30 a.m. here at 30 rock in new york city. after nearly ten years of military involvement in war, president obama is outlining his plan to draw down american troops in afghanistan. the president announcing in a nationally televised white house address last night that he will bring home the 33,000 surge troops he sent to afghanistan early last year. under the plan, 10,000 troops will withdraw by the end of the year, and another 23,000 will leave by september of next year. a window that would conclude two months before voters decide whether to reelect president obama. calling the surge one of the most difficult decisions he's ever made, the president insists that there is progress now in afghanistan. >> we're starting this drawdown from a position of strength. al qaeda is under more pressure