Obama to extend US troop presence in Afghanistan beyond 2016

[unhappycamper]

http://www.france24.com/en/20151015-obama-extend-us-troop-presence-afghanistan-beyond-2016



Archival picture shows members of the US military at a base in Gamberi, Afghanistan on December 7, 2014

Obama to extend US troop presence in Afghanistan beyond 2016
Latest update : 2015-10-15

President Barack Obama will keep 5,500 US troops in Afghanistan when he leaves office in 2017, according to senior administration officials.

The decision cast aside his promise to end the war on his watch and instead ensuring he hands the conflict off to his successor.

Obama had originally planned to pull out all but a small, embassy-based U.S. military presence by the end of next year, a timeline coinciding with the final weeks of his presidency. But military leaders argued for months that the Afghans needed additional assistance and support from the U.S. to beat back a resurgent Taliban and hold onto gains made over the last 14 years of American bloodshed and billions of dollars in aid.

The president was to announce the changes Thursday morning from the White House. Officials said he would outline plans to maintain the current force of 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through most of next year, then draw down to 5,500 troops in 2017, at a pace still to be determined by commanders.

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I don't get it.

We have been occupying Afghanistan for fourteen years and have spent at least $100 billion dollars on reconstruction projects.

In all honesty Afghanistan reminds me of Vietnam - a looong slog with no achievable goals.

Obama just extended this adventure to 2017 - sixteen years.

Keep in mind that all these occupations, all the weapons used and produced, all the payments for accidentally killing natives, and all the costs associated with transporting stuff to and from Afghanistan is going directly to the National Debt, aka the National Credit Card.