U.S. President Barack Obama (L) departs the White House Roosevelt Room after announcing plans to slow the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, after delivering a statement in Washington October 15, 2015. The plan would keep the current force of 9,800 through most of 2016 before beginning to trim levels. Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford joined the president for the announcement. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst