Pentagon chiefs: Afghans can manage by 2014 (only four more years)

[unhappycamper]

Pentagon chiefs: Afghans can manage by 2014
(AP) – 2 hours ago

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Afghanistan should be ready to handle its own security by the year 2014, the top U.S. defense chiefs said Monday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said NATO should endorse the 2014 timeline proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai when the alliance holds its annual summit later this month.

"As a target at this point that makes sense, so I am comfortable with it," Mullen said.

The 2014 date would give a symbolic deadline for ending the war and bringing most combat forces home. The war is already in its 10th year and unpopular in the U.S. and Europe.

The U.S. plans to begin withdrawing some of its 100,000 troops next summer, but has never said exactly how long some forces would remain. The top NATO civilian in Afghanistan, Mark Sedwill, has said the 2014 deadline is feasible for all but a residual allied force including special forces and trainers.



unhappycamper comment: Only another 1/2 ~ 3/4 of a trillion dollars to go. :woohoo:

[JCMach1]

1. and another Trillion dollars.... and how many lives? dead? destroyed?

no thanks

[WinkyDink]

2. I'm sure there will be other "insecure" states available by then for occupation.

[Gravel Democrat]

3. Whew. For a second I thought we'd be there forever, like Iraq.

[TheWraith]

4. Well, they're going to have to learn to deal a lot sooner, since we're leaving starting next year.nt