NATO says no deadline for Afghan troop withdrawal

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Reuters

NATO says no deadline for Afghan troop withdrawal

Jonathon Burch
KABUL
Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:52pm EST

KABUL (Reuters) - The head of NATO said on Tuesday there would be no deadline for the exit of allied troops from Afghanistan, as fears grow among Afghans that foreign forces will leave before their own troops are able to guarantee security.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was visiting Afghanistan for the first time since U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans this month to send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan to try and tame mounting violence. NATO allies have also promised to send around 7,000 more.

But Washington's plan also calls for U.S. troop levels to be scaled down from 2011 as Afghan security forces gradually take over responsibility, sparking concerns among Afghan civilians.

Unrest has reached its worst levels in the eight-year war, and many fear that bombings and attacks may rise if their police and troops have not been well-enough prepared for their new responsibilities.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BL2H220091222

[RedCloud]

1. I bet they won't stay one second after the last bit of energy flows through.

Got to keep those profits free from the people who actually live there.

[avaistheone1]

2. The backpeddling continues regarding a withdrawal date.

Some things never change.

[Flaneur]

3. The forever war...how nice.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. how many pipelines are there?

[Blandocyte]

5. Deadline= when pipeline is built and secured

Phaw.