McCain: Afghanistan troop cuts should be 'modest'

[June 21, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. John McCain says U.S. troops in Afghanistan are seeing "significant success," and any plans to withdraw forces should be "modest."

McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday that with "one more fighting season, we can get this thing pretty well wrapped up."

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama is expected to announce plans to bring thousands of American troops home, beginning next month. The president has said he favors a significant withdrawal, although military advisers favor a more gradual reduction.

Appearing Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" and NBC's "Today," McCain criticized Obama's timetable for beginning troop withdrawals in July, saying it "should never have been set to start with."

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.