Secret US and Afghanistan talks could see troops stay for decades

Source: The Guardian

American and Afghan officials are locked in increasingly acrimonious secret talks about a long-term security agreement which is likely to see US troops, spies and air power based in the troubled country for decades.

Though not publicised, negotiations have been under way for more than a month to secure a strategic partnership agreement which would include an American presence beyond the end of 2014 – the agreed date for all 130,000 combat troops to leave — despite continuing public debate in Washington and among other members of the 49-nation coalition fighting in Afghanistan about the speed of the withdrawal.

American officials admit that although Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, recently said Washington did not want any "permanent" bases in Afghanistan, her phrasing allows a variety of possible arrangements.

"There are US troops in various countries for some considerable lengths of time which are not there permanently," a US official told the Guardian.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/13/us-afghanistan-secret-talks-on-security-partnership

as in, the Afghanis really don't want us there and we really want to stay there.

STOP with the continued Imperialisms! Agree - at best - to allow their heroin into the USA to satisfy our demand and negate any criminal elements from becoming involved. FUCK the idea of being that countries "police force" so China and other's can more easily plunder it's raw resources!!! :grr:

Do they give a Nobel Prize for bait and switch?

Germany,England,Italy,France asked us to leave,Korea,Japan and hundreds of smaller countries and Islands.

Folks, look at the big picture, look at the current political landscape. Sit back and ask yourself, do you see us leaving either Iraq or Afghanistan any time soon?

Really, come on. Stop being so naive.

We are dying as a nation but rather than do what needs to be done: end the wars, tax the rich, stop bleeding the poor and middle class to death, we are doing exactly the opposite.

Do you honestly see that stopping any time soon given the current political climate?

If you do, I have this great bridge to sell you. I have a picture somewhere, oh never mind, trust me, it's a great bridge.

they need that base

I think Obama understands that his foolish decision to escalate this war was a serious foreign policy error that he has to undo before the next election.

Hence, it seems reasonable that there will be a deal of some sort that a) allows for a visible, massive troop withdrawal, b) includes an "agreement" with the client dictator there to prop him up militarily as needed, and c) provides cover so that Obama can pretend his escalation war a "success".

For their part, Americans will happily accept the cover story and move on.

And Afghanistan will remain a U.S fiefdom, and Karzai an installed U.S-puppet dictator, for the foreseeable future.

> For their part, Americans will happily accept the cover story and move on.
>
> And Afghanistan will remain a U.S fiefdom, and Karzai an installed U.S-puppet
> dictator, for the foreseeable future.

Business As Usual.