Officials: US may leave no troops in Afghanistan

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM


BY BY ROBERT BURNS, ASSOCIATED PRESS


WASHINGTON (AP) — White House officials say they are considering leaving no American troops in Afghanistan after the end of combat in December 2014, although the administration remains committed to preventing the country from becoming a haven for al-Qaida (al-KAH’-ee-duh).

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (HAH’-mihd KAHR’-zeye) arrives in the U.S. this week for meetings with top officials, including President Barack Obama.

Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser, said Tuesday that the White House is considering a range of options for troop levels after 2014. Officials have said the White House appears to favor keeping fewer than 10,000 U.S. troops there, but until now the administration has not said publicly it is considering a so-called zero option.

Rhodes said the U.S. goal is not necessarily to keep troops there, but to fight terrorists.

-30-

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/01/08/officials_us_may_leave_no_troops_in_afghanistan/

[TwilightGardener]

1. Hope this comes true.

[rocktivity]

2. Mecenaries included?

rocktivity

[dipsydoodle]

4. That song "Little White Lies" comes to mind

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. No mercenaries, but perhaps a few (thousand) security personnel

... outsourced to a contract house, like Blackwater/Xe/Academi.

deniability.

[rocktivity]

17. Well, there's a way to save on defense spending

Nationalize Blackwater/Xe/Academi and draft those guys!


rocktivity

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

18. That doesn't save on Defense spending

I think most of the costs are in Dept of State's budget. That way, Defense can deny having troops in Iraq. It's Hilary's army.

[Scootaloo]

3. No troops, just drones

[jody]

16. Good point. Bring our troops and drones home. Quit murdering innocent people. nt

[lib2DaBone]

5. b-b-b-b- but ....we give Al Qaida guns and money...?

So why do we care what they do in Afghanistan? (sorry.. I am so naive...)

No troops in Afghanistan sounds good.

Now how 'bout ....no troops in Yemen, Turkey, Syria, Dubai, Libyia and 35 countries in Africa?

Bring our kids home... re-build America first.

[SoapBox]

6. Super ditto!

"Bring our kids home... re-build America first."

I agree with that...in fact, it bears repeating and bolded, to boot!

"Bring our kids home... re-build America first."

[dipsydoodle]

7. Afghan 'zero option' raised as Karzai set for Obama

The White House has said for the first time it is possible that no US troops will remain in Afghanistan past 2014, as President Hamid Karzai arrived in Washington for talks with Barack Obama.

Ben Rhodes, a top US security official, told reporters the administration was still considering a range of options.

Mr Karzai's three-day trip will include crucial talks with Mr Obama and other officials, but no final decision.

The Afghan president wants US troops out of Afghan towns and villages.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20940394

[daleo]

13. No U.S. troops, no Karzai

I think he will have to decamp as well, or be killed once American troops are gone.

[rachel1]

8. There should've been NO US military presence there at all

The entire occupation of Afghanistan was an imperialistic sham and it's still continuing to this day.

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. Sounds like posturing aimed at Karzai. Still...

...while I think it was meant as a threat, I choose to take it as a promise. Pretty please.

[DonViejo]

10. I see it as a trial balloon...

a chance for the McCain and Graham comedy team to start complaining about the President "abandoning the Afghan people. And so, must have at least thousands and thousands of our military there."

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. Very odd

You mean that when they say they are "ending the war and bringing the troops home", they actually are???? (unlike Iraq)

wow!

[happyslug]

12. So Obama is doing in Afghanistan, what LBJ failed to do in Vietnam?

Declare Victory and pull out. This is what the Soviets did in Afghanistan, the Government they left actually outlived the Soviet Union by a whole year, but only after the Soviet Army left the Country claiming it had achieved its objectives.

Soviet Pullout from Afghanistan:15 February 1989

Attempted Coup to overthrow Gorbachev:19-21 August 1991

Dissolution of the Soviet Union ecember 1991

Fall of the Communist Government of Afghanistan:April 1992

The US withdraw, and the fall of Vietnam was quicker. and that is without a coup in the US, but Nixon did resign over Watergate on August 9th, 1974:

US Signed the agreement to end the War in Vietnam: January 23, 1973

North Vietnamese Army Entered Saigon: 29 April 1975

In many ways, Obama plan to withdraw all US Ground Forces, is like the withdraw of US Forces from Vietnam, and Soviet Forces from Afghanistan. a declaration of Victory then a withdraw of all forces, knowing the Government we support will fall within three years.

[alp227]

14. Some in administration push for only a few thousand U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014 (wash. pos

"White House officials said Tuesday that they have not ruled out leaving no troops at all when the U.N. security mandate sanctioning the international coalition expires, saying they might find non-military means to meet U.S. objectives in Afghanistan. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/some-in-obama-administration-push-for-only-a-few-thousand-us-troops-in-afghanistan-after-2014/2013/01/08/847597a4-59d2-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_singlePage.html