NEW : Senior administration officials say planning for the drawdown began in September 2012 . Romney , Huntsman question Joe Manchin 's decision . `` Together with the Pakistanis , we have taken out more than half of al Qaeda 's leadership . 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 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 .