2024? Really. No wonder this place is almost 'speechless' right now. Not even a poll. Just

I dont like it but its the American way.

This agreement should help facilitate that.

By leaving the damn country.

but then you have to accept the consequences of leaving.

I just have to ask a question...what is it with this 2024 stuff? I'm seeing a few threads with that and no explanation.

Surprise, surprise. Not

It says that the US will offer support to the Afghans. It says nothing to do with troops, and in fact explicitly says US troops are getting out of the war by 2014.

I'm just trying to sort through this as I am confused as well, particularly since most of NATO is, for all intents and purposes, withdrawing.

But if anyone ever asks them, I'm sure they'll be instructed to deny that they are "troops".

The presence of any militaryish forces -not troops, of course, no one is alleging that!- acts as a trigger, always ready to draw us back in in greater and more obvious involvement.

It means drones, special advisors, arms shipments to psychopaths that are on our side, puppet governments, sabotaged elections, and the like.

I listened to tonight's speech, and all the speeches that came before. Yeah, right.

How many extensions have we had so far? I don't have enough fingers to count.

Man there was nobody more in favor a Public Option for health insurance than Barack Obama. I mean he was FIERCE about it, right through Nov. 2008.

Otherwise anyone suggesting that was Obama's position then would be probably be tossed from this board.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018048900_afghanistan23.html

*snip*

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's national-security adviser, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, initialed a final draft of the agreement with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, according to emailed statements from Karzai's office and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

The two countries have a month to review and sign the deal by the May 21 NATO summit conference in Chicago, a goal voiced last month by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. That gathering is expected to produce a plan for the final phase of the decadelong war in Afghanistan.

The document pledges American financial support for Afghanistan through 2024 and refers to the ongoing U.S. role in bolstering Afghan democracy and civil society.

The specifics of the U.S. commitment have yet to be formally outlined and could be governed by future agreements.

*snip*

While things at home go down the tubes.

Hurrah!

Highlights of the strategic partnership agreement signed in Kabul by President Barack Obama and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai outlining the relationship between their countries after the U.S.-led war ends in 2014:

- U.S. commits to support Afghanistan's social and economic development, security, institutions and regional cooperation for 10 years, through 2024.

- Afghanistan commits to strengthen government accountability, transparency and oversight, and to protect the human rights of all Afghans, both men and women.

- U.S. does not seek permanent military bases in Afghanistan, but Afghanistan will provide U.S. personnel access to and use of Afghan facilities beyond 2014.

- Allows U.S. possibility of keeping forces in Afghanistan after 2014 for purposes of training Afghan forces and targeting al-Qaida.

MORE...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018116425_apasafghanistanagreement.html

Ah the hypocrisy of it all is rich.

Which guy would that be? Panetta himself says there are only 50-100 left in Afghanistan. There's probably more of them in Boston or Brooklyn than in Afghanistan?

The unintended message to Afghan women: grab your ankles - you are not going to enjoy this.

Allowing the Taliban to have any part in rebuilding the nation they just destroyed is not just wrong - it is unthinkable.

...as a means to support them in training and to be in a counter-terrorism positions (ie the Biden plan).

I have absolutely no problem with this. It means that we will not have a huge force there. It means its no longer an occupation as we are not in control. Its no different than what we did with South Korea after the Korean war.

(copied from another thread)

It says that the US will support Afghanistan's "social and economic development" after the US troops troops leave in 2014, including POSSIBLY, although not certainly, continuing to provide training for Afghan troops. However, it does not keep the US in a combat or occupation role after the already scheduled end of the war in 2014. In exchange for US support, Afghanistan makes commitments to strengthen government accountability and protect human rights of all Afghans, including women.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018048900_afghanistan23.html

However I'm sure many will expect that to change, or worry that it might, due to a change in circumstances there, some technicality (mercenaries vs. troops?), or what have you.

Also, it's an election year, so ... who knows.

and a bigger war

Scab made it seem as if the war would continue until 2024. If that's not the case, I guess it's just another case of poor journalism.

Troops will be out in 2014. No bases will be built. Financial and other forms of support will continue until 2024. (Arguing about that point is valid. Saying the war will continue for another 12 years is disingenuous and false.)

That way you can say combat has ended. There is absolutely no sign of any success in Afghanistan. In fact April was the worst of this year with at least 33 dead.

This is maddening. The war will end in 2014. No troops will be in Afghanistan. No bases will be built. Financial aid and other aid will continue until 2024.

You can be upset the war will continue for another 2 years. You can be upset we're going to be aiding the country for another 12. I'd agree with you partially on the latter. But saying we're going to be at war until 2024 is just false.

Debate the facts. Don't use spin or lies.

Afghan military until 2024 at $4 billion per year.

This may involve 20,000 USA military "trainers" and Special Forces (and increased State Department, mercenaries/contractors, etc.).

Are you a Sufi perchance? Bliss through dervish dancing is cool.

Did I expect us to leave Aghanistan by 2014? No. Did I expect it to be 2024? No, even I couldn't actively allow myself to imagine that. I cannot say how disgusted I am at this point. I feel like I've been punched in the gut a bit too often