Negotiations to extend U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan

Posted By Josh Rogin Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 12:24 PM Share

Despite statements by Vice President Joe Biden, the State Department is about to begin formal negotiations over the extension of U.S. troops past 2014, a top State Department official said Tuesday.

Last week, U.S. and Afghan negotiators met in Kabul to talk about the Bilateral Security Agreement that will govern the extension of U.S. troops past 2014, when President Barack Obama said the combat mission in Afghanistan will end and the U.S. will complete the transition of the entire country to Afghan government control.

Read more: http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/10/16/state_department_official_negotiations_to_extend_us_troop_presence_in_afghanistan_s

Those of us that have served or are serving knew that we would not just pull out. Regardless of what our personal opinions are, we knew what would happen. It will be real interesting to see what the status of forces agreement will be.

Karzai knows he must keep American troops and air assets here if he doesn't want to wind up being beheaded. The coming power vaccuum is probably already attracting Russian, Pakistani, and Iranian intelligence and diplomatic assets.