US alarmed by David Cameron's push for early Afghanistan withdrawal

David Cameron’s push for an early British withdrawal from Afghanistan has caused alarm in the US, raising fears for the Special Relationship.


Both Mr Cameron and US President Barack Obama are both pushing for an early end to the Afghan mission Photo: PA

By Ben Farmer, and James Kirkup 10:45PM BST 16 May 2011
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Senior American military figures have warned Britain that a hasty exit from Afghanistan could strain relations between the two countries.

The Daily Telegraph last week revealed that David Cameron has ordered British commanders to draw up plans to start pulling hundreds of British troops out of Afghanistan within weeks.

The Prime Minister is expected to discuss a co-ordinated Afghan withdrawal in London next week.

The prospect of an imminent British withdrawal is understood to have alarmed American generals, who are trying to resist political pressure for a major reduction in US troop numbers.

Well-placed sources said that US generals have delivered a blunt warning to their British counterparts about the impact of an early UK withdrawal.

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One senior American general is said to have told British commanders that the US would not “bail outâ€