Rapid Fire Dec. 20, 2013: Drawdown Cost/Benefit; UK Troop Levels

• The GAO on the forthcoming logistics costs of withdrawing from Afghanistan and what to leave vs. what to bring back:

“Because the services have not consistently performed and documented analyses to support decision making concerning the return of excess major end items from Afghanistan, there is a risk that the costs of returning excess items may outweigh the benefits of returning them.

• Canada still has 400 containers in Kandahar of low priority, but still worth shipping back, according to 45eNord.ca [in French]. But keeping them there incurs exposure to rental costs and theft risk.
• Prime Minister Cameron told Parliament that the UK will lower its forces in Afghanistan to about 5,200 by the end of 2013, down from 9,000 now.