His plan is to pull out all the American forces — numbering just under 2,500 now — by this Sept. 11, the anniversary of the attacks that were co-ordinated from Afghanistan. "I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. The lengthy conflict has largely crippled al-Qaeda and led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. He said he also spoke to former president George W. Bush, who was president at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks. Stoltenberg said the full withdrawal would be completed "in months" but did not mention the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks set as the U.S. deadline by Biden.

Source: CBC News April 14, 2021 18:02 UTC