President To Reveal Plan to Lower Troop Levels in Afghanistan

President Barack Obama at 8 p.m. will address the nation about his plan to bring home troops from Afghanistan. 

A concisely worded press release from White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, “ The President will address the nation from the White House to lay out his plan for implementing his strategy -- first unveiled in December 2009 -- to draw down American troops from Afghanistan.”

No additional information was provided in the announcement.

Since the killing of terrorist Osama Bin Laden last month a number congressional leaders have publicly called for American troops to be returned home.

Various published reports estimate that by the end of this year some 5,000-10,000 troops could be brought home, and by the end of 2012 the rest of the 35,000 troops, part of the surge in December 2009, could return state side also.

With the economy sputtering, unemployment hovering at 9 percent and 120 billion dollars spent last year on the War in Afghanistan, some democrats say those dollars could be used towards other economic initiatives in the states, the New York Times reports

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, said Sunday on CNN, "The draw down must be politically credible here at home” indicating to a number of foreign policy hawks Gate's position on the issue is different than the President's.

Carney said the President met with the commander of the Afgan Forces, Gen. David H. Petraeus last week and a number of potential strategies were discussed;however, Obama kept the specifics to himself.

The address can be seen on any of the major local networks scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. tonight.