From VOA Learning English,this is In The News.President Barack Obama this week announced plansfor bringing America's longest warto what he called a responsible end.He said that this year the United Stateswill finish its combat operations in Afghanistan,and give Afghan forces control of the country's security.Mr. Obama said that after 2014,9,800 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan.But he said they all could be withdrawnif Afghan leaders do not sign a joint security agreement.Under the president's plan,U.S. forces will be out of the countryby the time he leaves office in 2017.The only soldiers left will guard the embassy and diplomats.That would be similar to the situation in Iraq,where Mr. Obama withdrew troops in 2011.On Wednesday, the president spoketo the men and women finishing study programsat the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.He told them that,"you are the first class to graduate since 9/11who may not be sent into combat in Iraq or Afghanistan."President Obama used the speechto answer critics of his foreign policy.He said the United Statesis the most "indispensible" nation in the world.But he warned against new military interventions.Critics have called Mr. Obama's foreign policy unclear and weak.They point to his decision not to follow up on threatsto attack Syria when it used chemical weapons.They also have criticized his failureto stop Russia from interfering in Ukraine.In his speech, Mr. Obama said that,"the most direct threat to America at homeand abroad remains terrorism.""First, let me repeat a principleI put forward at the outset of my presidency:the United States will use military force,unilaterally if necessary,when our core interests demand it."Mr. Obama called for a new $5 billion plan to help Yemen,Somalia, Libya and Mali fight terrorists.He also said the U.S. would continue drone strikesagainst terrorists and support for Syrian opposition groups.One of Mr. Obama's critics is Arizona Senator John McCain.Mr. McCain says the United States should be arming Syrian rebels.He also is critical of Mr. Obama's planfor withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.The senator spoke on Phoenix radio station KFYI,The Barry Young Show."We're now seeing a replay of Iraq in Afghanistan,and one can only question whether this whole basiswas that he would be able to say at the end of his termthat the troops are out of both countries....But the first thing the United States of Americaneeds to regain is its credibility."It is in Congress where Mr. Obamafaces much of the criticism over his foreign policy.Michael O'Hanlon is with the Brookings Institution.He says the president's decision to avoid military action in Syriaand Ukraine is probably what most Americans wanted.Studies have shown that Americans are tired of the wars in Iraqand Afghanistan and do not support more military adventures."...you add up the whole picture,it starts to look a little weak.And then you are open to the chargethat foreign leaders have figured outthat you do not want to do muchand they're exploiting the window of opportunity,which is, of course, the charge being madeabout why (Russian President Vladimir) Putingot so aggressive on the Crimea."And that's In The News, from VOA Learning English.