Panetta arrives in Afghanistan as 2014 troop withdrawal looms

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KABUL, Afghanistan U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit to consult with top commanders and President Hamid Karzai.

The visit Wednesday comes at a difficult juncture in the Western coalition's efforts to shift more security responsibilities to Afghan forces so the combat mission can end in 2014.

Panetta said earlier Wednesday in Kuwait, where he gave a pep talk to U.S. troops, that President Obama will decide within a few weeks how many U.S. troops to keep in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

"Part of the reason for this trip is to talk with General (John) Allen and to discuss with him some of the options that are being prepared for the President's consideration," Panetta told CBS Radio News correspondent Cami McCormick, referring to the commander of U.S. troops in the country. "Our hope is that we can complete that process in the next few weeks."

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Panetta told McCormick, "once the President's made the decision" about post-2014 troop levels, "that will then give General Allen the opportunity to figure out then what the drawdown ought to be to that number, and over what period of time."

While security has generally improved lately, the Afghan government's ability to effectively govern and to root out corruption is in great doubt. Peace talks with the Taliban are on a back burner.

[B_Erhart]

1 troop = $1,000,000 a year

When Klanistan congress wants to cut 'paid for' Social Security.

Geriatric 'teaklanners' keep sticking yourselves.

Talk about 'stuck on stupid'.

[eroteme2]

When Obama tells Panetta to squat Panetta squats. Obama has repeatedly said he is going to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan in 2014. One might suspect he means to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan in 2014.

[jschm2681]

Remember Obama never lies he just "misspeaks". I can only think this situation will end with helicopters plucking civilians, embassy staff, and military off rooftops at the last minute.

[vrytix]

Doesn't the Afghan Govt. have to agree whether to have legal control of those troops or not? Wasn't that a sticking point when the same administration wanted to keep some troops in Iraq after the withdrawal deadline?

But, more important, why does the administration want to keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014? That was supposed to be the final withdrawal year.

VP Biden said during his debate with Paul Ryan that US troops definitely withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. He said nothing about keeping troops there.