The Obama administration has developed a plan to begin transferring security duties in select Afghan areas to that country's forces over the next 18 to 24 months, with an eye toward ending the American combat mission there by 2014, officials said yesterday.
The phased four-year plan to wind down American and allied fighting in Afghanistan will be presented at a NATO summit meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, this week, the officials said. It will reflect the most concrete vision for transition in Afghanistan assembled by civilian and military officials since President Obama took office last year.
The plan is similar to the phased withdrawal strategy implemented in Iraq which transferred security duties to Iraqi forces. The lingering question remains, how does this sit with the president's party, many who were adamant against any surge of forces into Afghanistan, and want U.S. brought home now!
A couple of key upcoming events will challenge an already weakened president still reeling from the disastrous mid-term elections. Next month the Afghan counterinsurgency review strategy evaluates the surge of U.S. forces into Afghanistan, the July 31st 2011 Afghan draw-down, and finally the change of personnel in key national security positions.
Let's see what the future brings!
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