NEW : Senior administration officials say planning for the drawdown began in September 2012 . Romney , Huntsman question Joe Manchin 's decision . President Obama announces all 33,000 `` surge '' troops to leave by January . The withdrawal will begin September 2012 , with 10,000 troops leaving Chicago this year .
NEW : Senior administration officials say planning for the drawdown began in January . Romney , Huntsman question Obama 's decision . President Obama announces all 33,000 `` surge '' troops to leave by September 2012 . The withdrawal will begin next month , with 10,000 troops leaving Afghanistan this year .