Trump’s lack of details on Afghanistan plan prompts mixed reactions

President Donald Trump says that he plans to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan for a while longer in order to protect the country.
But his lack of details of the plan, particularly how many troops would be deployed and how long they will stay, concerned some Americans.
“America’s enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out. I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will,” Trump said during a primetime address Monday.
It is of note that the president originally campaigned that he would withdraw troops from overseas. He also criticized former President Barack Obama on Twitter in previous years for continuing the war.
Seton Hall University history professor and military expert Williamjames Hull Hoffer says that he understands why the president offered very few specifics about his plan.  But Hoffer says that on a personal level not knowing the end game is disconcerting.
“As someone who has taught students who presently serve in Afghanistan and those who are possibly going to deployed to Afghanistan, I’m concerned about their future and their well-being,” he says.
But a group of veterans at the VFW Post 2179 in Middletown say that they feel differently.
“What would have happened if on D-Day we would have announced we were coming? Would it have been a success then?” asks Marine veteran Bill Berry.
“We need to go in there, solve the problem and get the hell out,” says Marine veteran Ed Lust.
When asked if he foresees an end in sight with the president's plan, Professor Hoffer says, “There is always an end in sight. The question is will we like it?"
There are currently about 8,400 American troops in Afghanistan. This is down from about 9,800 last year.