Pentagon chiefs: Afghans can manage by 2014

[unhappycamper]

Top US defense chiefs endorse Afghan goal of security handover by 2014


Pentagon chiefs: Afghans can manage by 2014
By The Associated Press
Monday, November 8th, 2010 -- 9:10 am

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: Great. Only another trillion dollars or so and we'll get out of Afghanistan. In case you fucks didn't realize it, the last person to conquer Afghanistan was Genghis Khan in 1219.