Testing the Afghan Exit Ramps by David Ignatius, Washington Post. BLUF: "Inevitably, this debate is partly a numbers game: The rapid-withdrawal advocates want a timetable for removing all 30,000 of the "surge" troops Obama decided to send in December 2009. The "stay the course" proponents want a modest reduction of 3,000 to 5,000 troops, which is all they think conditions allow. A 'split the difference' caucus argues for a cutback that hits five figures - something around 10,000."