Keller @ Large: Political Pressure Affecting Obama's Strategy In Afghanistan

BOSTON (CBS) - Eventual U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan mark an end to the troop surge ordered last year.

President Obama appeared to back away from the goal of rebuilding Afghanistan as a Democratic nation. It appears that political pressure is driving these policy changes.

Pressure has come from an odd-couple coalition that includes liberals who don't like military intervention and conservatives outraged over the price tag.

But, it's when large majorities in the middle are saying they've had it with this war that this or any other president has to respond.

WBZ's Jon Keller is at large:

"Al Qaeda remains dangerous, and we must be vigilant against attacks, but we have put al Qaeda on a path to defeat," said President Obama.

That's a nod to the widespread public belief that the killing of Osama bin Laden marked successful completion of our most-popular goal in Afghanistan.

"Tonight, we take comfort in knowing that the tide of war is receding," said President Obama.

Since bin Laden's death, so has support for our self-proclaimed nation-building mission. The most recent national poll found those who want our troops out of there as soon as possible has rocketed from 40 percent a year ago to 56 percent now, a message no president seeking re-election could ignore.

"Over the last decade we have spent a trillion dollars on war, at a time of rising debt and hard economic times," said President Obama. "America, it is time to focus on nation building here at home."

The president hit that message hard, and with good reason. The staggering economy has been the public's overriding priority since before he was elected, and any savings from the draw-down will be as well-received as the sight of our soldiers returning home.

"Let us responsibly end these wars," said Obama.

Did he say "wars" - plural? Yes he did, another nod to the emerging skepticism across the political spectrum of the soaring costs of our Libyan involvement.

Even if these promised withdrawals go as planned, there will still be 70,000 troops in Afghanistan come Election Day, more than when Obama took office, to go with the 40,000 plus still in Iraq. Ending war, it seems, it easier said than done.

There are 100,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan right now. The war costs taxpayers roughly $2 billion per week.