Let's Hear It For The 'Zero-Option'

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U.S. Is Open to Withdraw (Entire) Afghan Force After 2014


WASHINGTON — On the eve of a visit by President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, the Obama administration said Tuesday that it was open to a so-called zero option that would involve leaving no American troops in Afghanistan after 2014, when the NATO combat mission there comes to an end.

While President Obama has made no secret of his desire to withdraw American troops as rapidly as possible, the plans for a postwar American presence in Afghanistan have generally envisioned a residual force of thousands of troops to carry out counterterrorism operations and to help train and equip Afghan soldiers.

In a conference call with reporters, the deputy national security adviser, Benjamin J. Rhodes, said that leaving no troops “would be an option that we would consider,” adding that “the president does not view these negotiations as having a goal of keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan.”

Military analysts have said it is difficult to conceive of how the United States might achieve even its limited post-2014 goals in Afghanistan without any kind of troop presence.


read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/world/asia/us-is-open-to-withdraw-afghan-force-after-2014.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0&pagewanted=print

(I don't think the number will be 'zero,' but they're down from 20,000 to a relative pittance of a couple thousand - encouraging news, ripe for increased activism)

[libdem4life]

1. Stated intentions have power. Bring them home to nation-build where we need them.

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2. bring them home

. . . yesterday.