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TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:05 PM May 2012

CLARIFICATION: US/Afghan agreement does NOT keep US troops in Afghanistan past 2014.

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

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TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
5. It doesn't help that MSNBC fucked up at first.
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:12 PM
May 2012

They put up a sub-headline claiming that the deal kept US troops there until 2024, when in fact it says no such thing.

former9thward

(31,802 posts)
13. The NATO meeting in Chicago this month is going to agree to 2024.
Tue May 1, 2012, 09:17 PM
May 2012

They will call it "training" aid and troops rather than combat.

 

avaistheone1

(14,626 posts)
3. But how will we ever be able to leave if the Afghans are not ready to stand up then?
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:10 PM
May 2012

How can we justify the blood lost, without spilling more blood if the Afghans can't do the job at that point? That has been the justification so far.

This is war will continue to be without end in some sort of fashion until the military industrial complex will allow us to leave.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
7. Well...
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:18 PM
May 2012
U.S. forces have already started pulling out of Afghanistan, and the majority of combat troops are scheduled to depart by the end of 2014. But the U.S. is expected to maintain a large presence in the country for years after, including special forces, military trainers and government-assistance programs.


Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002596994


TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
12. Except that we, you know, left Iraq.
Tue May 1, 2012, 09:12 PM
May 2012

Trying to count the electricians at the embassy as US soldiers is... kinda desperate and pathetic.

 

Daniel537

(1,560 posts)
11. "Possibly"
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:26 PM
May 2012

Yeah, i'll take that to mean we will keep some troops there after all. The MIC lobby always wins out on these types of things.

 

morningfog

(18,115 posts)
14. Actually: The Agreement provides for the possibility of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014...
Tue May 1, 2012, 09:31 PM
May 2012

"The Agreement provides for the possibility of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014, for the purposes of training Afghan Forces and targeting the remnants of al-Qaeda, and commits the United States and Afghanistan to initiate negotiations on a Bilateral Security Agreement to supersede our current Status of Forces Agreement. "

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/fact-sheet-us-afghanistan-strategic-partnership-agreement

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