Pentagon chief: Training Afghan forces key to US mission

US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (center L) greets soldiers in a receiving line after a question-and-answer session with U.S. military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in Kandahar, Afghanistan February 22, 2015. The United States is considering slowing a planned withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan to ensure that "progress sticks" after more than a decade of war, Carter said during an unannounced visit to Kabul on Saturday. [Photo/Agencies]

Under the Obama administration's exit plan for Afghanistan, the US military presence at Kandahar will close down this year. President Barack Obama, however, is considering changes to the plan, including the possibility of keeping Kandahar open longer while keeping more US troops in Afghanistan this year and next than presently planned.

An Obama decision may come as early as next month when he hosts Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the White House.

The US combat mission ended two months ago, and the focus this year for the 10,000 troops who remain is on consolidating gains in the development of the Afghan forces while also carrying out US counterterrorism raids on remnants of al-Qaida and associated extremist groups.

In a question-and-answer session with his audience of soldiers, Carter was asked on Sunday about concerns that the White House micromanages the Pentagon.

Carter said he considers it his duty to speak his mind to the president but also to follow his direction once a policy decision has been made.

"I won't pull any punches," Carter said. "I'm going to play it absolutely straight."

His predecessor, Chuck Hagel, was ousted in part for a perceived failure to provide strong policy options. Others who have run the Pentagon under Obama complained later of being micromanaged by the White House staff.