American Forces Press Service –
(Photo illustration by U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Thomas)
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama today informed Afghan President Hamid Karzai that because the Afghan leader has demonstrated that it is unlikely that he will sign the bilateral security agreement on a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan beyond this year, he has asked the Pentagon to ensure that it has adequate plans in place to accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the United States not keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014.
In a summary of the Obama-Karzai phone call released to reporters, White House officials said Obama is leaving open the possibility of concluding a bilateral security agreement with Afghanistan later this year.
“However, the longer we go without a BSA, the more challenging it will be to plan and execute any U.S. mission,” they added. “Furthermore, the longer we go without a BSA, the more likely it will be that any post-2014 U.S. mission will be smaller in scale and ambition.”
Soon after, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel released a statement expressing his “strong support” for the president’s decision.
“This is a prudent step, given that President Karzai has demonstrated that it is unlikely that he will sign the bilateral security agreement, which would provide DOD personnel with critical protections and authorities after 2014,” the secretary said.
He also commended the efforts of Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., commander of U.S. forces and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and other military leaders to provide flexibility to the president as the United States works to determine the future of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.
“As the United States military continues to move people and equipment out of the Afghan theater, our force posture over the next several months will provide various options for political leaders in the United States and NATO,” Hagel said in his statement. “And during this time, DOD will still continue planning for U.S. participation in a NATO-led mission focused on training, advising, and assisting Afghan security forces, as well as a narrowly focused counterterrorism mission.”
The United States will consult closely with NATO allies and ISAF partners in the months ahead, he added, noting that he looks forward to discussing U.S. planning with NATO and ISAF defense ministers in Brussels this week.
In addition, If your not physically there, or have sons, daughters or other family members there, you don’t really care.
http://live.wsj.com/video/afghanistan-experts-stumped-by-simple-questions/854D3A1A-DBFE-4A78-8494-4E0422568E19.html
Good, bring them all home before any more of them are injured or killed. The plan to bring peace and democracy has gone on long enough, at what cost. Some countries can’t live under democracy, or peacefully, case in point, Iraq.
You are correct Allen…and while some Nation’s have many problems and human rights abuses, full scale invasions with a “shock and awe” campaign to thrust their western values on them in an afternoon ISN’T the way to go about it; does more harm than good.
First of all, introductions to other cultures and religions takes skilled diplomacy and trust. When native people sense you are there to steal their natural resources, your mission has already failed. Big Oil and their Military protectors don’t seem to realize that….well actually they know it, but they just don’t give a damn (might makes right). See the movie AVATAR if you need a little metaphorical help.
The Taliban are loathsome this is true…but UNOCAL OIL is just as loathsome. The West’s exploitation of these resources have been attributed to most of those conflicts, including the Soviet’s occupation of Afghanistan, and some even venture to say Oil Fishing Expeditions in Inodochina…ie. Vietnam.
And all we had to do was develop wind turbines, solar panels, and public transportation and an updated electrical grid. To tell someone their son or daughter died in a foreign country for OIL is too burdensome an endeavor…they need to hear they died for American Values and promoting “Freedom”.
Sad.
Geez, talk about a 1 track mind.
@maybe-as far as I have ever heard there is no oil in Afghanistan. Who knows what Philly is rambling about now.
Next he will start on the only reason we are in North Dakota is for the oil.
Good Riddance. The era of George W. Bush is almost completely over.
Your ignorance and obamas thurst for anything to make him look good is going to cost a lot of lives. Plus it gives the world the impression that we retreat before we accomplish our goals. That’s right, you want America to look weak.
@maybe-we are right back to where we were under Carter. America is no longer respected or feared. They know that the Great Liar in Chief will not back up what he says “(Do not cross my red line)”. Putin will make a fool out of him again. what an embarrassment he is to our once great country