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General Miller had long set out a goal of an 8,600-member troop force as being both a desired level
據兩名國防官員透露，米勒將軍早就設定了將駐軍規模縮減至8600人這一目標，一方面是因為這一規模相對理想，
and as the minimum needed to support the Afghan military, according to two defense officials.
另一方面，這一規模也是支持阿富汗軍方所需的最小駐軍規模。
General Miller, a Special Operations officer by profession, has a reputation for whittling down military units
身為特種作戰軍官，米勒將軍一向以擅長削減軍隊規模著稱，
and commands to “trim the fat” and best accomplish their mission.
身為指揮官，他的任務就是“減肥”，以最佳成績完成任務。
In the last year that he has led the Afghan mission,
在他領導阿富汗任務的最后一年，
American troops have focused on seeking out leadership for Afghan forces
美軍一直致力于為阿富汗軍隊物色能更好地承擔戰爭帶來的壓力，
who can better carry the burden of the war, while the United States can focus its resources in backing them up with air power.
讓美國能集中資源支援阿富汗的空中力量的領導力量。
At the height of the war, in 2010 and 2011,
在阿富汗戰爭最為激烈的階段，也即2010~2011年，
more than 100,000 American troops were stationed in Afghanistan,
駐阿美軍的規模達到了10萬人以上，
aided by tens of thousands of soldiers from NATO allies in what made up one of the biggest military coalitions in the world.
還有北約聯盟派出的數萬名士兵輔助，雙方當時結成了世界上最大的軍事聯盟。
Now, a further reduction in American forces would mean that the burden of training the Afghan military would fall more heavily
如今，美軍規模進一步縮減，這就意味著訓練阿富汗軍隊的重任將主要落到
on the roughly 8,500 NATO forces and other allies in the country.
該國境內的8500名左右的北約士兵及其他盟軍的肩上。
It is unclear, however, whether a reduction in American forces might lead to some reconsideration by NATO allies as well.
然而，美方削減駐軍這一舉措是否會影響北約盟國對阿富汗戰爭的看法目前尚不清楚。
In a recent interview with The New York Times,
最近，在接受《紐約時報》采訪時，
NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, would not speculate on any reduction of troops,
北約秘書長延斯·斯托爾滕貝格拒絕猜測盟軍會做出任何撤軍舉措，
but added that NATO remains committed to the mission in Afghanistan.
但他說道，北約對阿富汗任務初心未泯。
“We have adjusted that many times,
“我們已經對這一任務做出了多次調整，
and we will always assess exactly the way and the composition of our forces in Afghanistan,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.
我們會經常評估我們在阿富汗的部隊的組成和行為方式，”斯托爾滕貝格說。
The plan to shrink the force in Afghanistan comes as much of the world’s attention
縮減駐阿美軍規模這一計劃出臺之際，全球的目光
has been focused on the retreat of American forces from the front line in Syria as Turkish-backed troops advance into the country.
很大程度上都落在了美軍因為土耳其支持的部隊向敘利亞逼近從敘利亞前線撤退一事上。
And in many ways, the changes in Syria and Afghanistan are linked.
就許多方面而言，敘利亞和阿富汗局勢的改變都有一定的關聯。
In December, in the aftermath of Mr. Trump’s first announcement that American forces would be leaving Syria,
去年12月，特朗普首次宣布美軍將撤離敘利亞之后，
he also demanded the withdrawal of 7,000 troops from Afghanistan.
他便已提出從阿富汗撤軍7000人的要求。
Mr. Trump’s orders sent the Pentagon and the American command in the Middle East
官員們表示，特朗普的命令下達之后，五角大樓以及美國駐中東司令部
scrambling in an effort to persuade the president otherwise, officials say.
均爭搶著要說服總統打消這一命令。
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