President Barack Obama Friday NATO troops Said Would speed up a transfer of lead security responsibility to Afghan forces, this spring, in a sign the pace of U.S. troop Withdrawals Could quicken.
After meeting President Hamid Karzai to chart Afghanistan's future, Obama insisted the United States there HAD Achieved target icts of "decapitating" Al-Qaeda, DESPITE falling short of heady early goals for Afghan reconstruction.
The two leaders is at a crucial moment in the final chapter of a long, bloody war, as Obama and balances shape the future of Afghanistan with U.S. fight tiredness and a desire to Spend America's dwindling resources at home.
"Starting this spring, our troops will Have a different mission - training, advising, Assisting Afghan forces. It will be a historic moment and another step Toward full Afghan sovereignty," Obama Told joined news conference.
"Because of the progress made has-beens That in terms of Afghan security forces, Their capacity to take the lead, we are ble to meet (transition) and accelerate em Somewhat goals," Obama said.
NATO planes HAD Previously Called for foreign forces, transfer lead to fighting duties against the Taliban by the middle of the year this. Obama was careful to stress however That will still fight U.S. troops Alongside Afghans.
That Karzai added from the spring, "the Afghan forces, will be fully responsible for Providing security and protection to the Afghan people.
"International forces, the American forces will no longer be present in the villages ... it will be the task of the Afghan Forces To Provide for the Afghan people in security and protection."
Obama, planning the withdrawal of MOST of the 66.000 U.S. troops left in Afghanistan, Said That Effective 2014, American Forces Would have a "very limited" mission in training Afghan forces, and Preventing a return of Al-Qaeda.
That goal he warned Karzai, with Whom He Has had a testy relationship Somewhat, Would have to accept a security agreement, still under discussion, Granting legal immunity to U.S. troops who REMAIN behind.
"It will not be feasible for us to Have Any U.S. troop presence kind of post-2014 without insurance men and women That our who are operating there are (not) in some way subject to the jurisdiction of another country."
Karzai Announced progress is another sticking points entre le sides, saying que les leaders HAD Agreed to a full return of detention centers to Afghan Detainees and control, starting soon he returns home Effective.
Would not he be goal drawn on the size of the foreign troop garrison Believes he is Necessary to Support Afghan forces, and to Ensure That Does not Afghanistan slip back into violence and dislocation.
The White house has ordered the Pentagon to come up with plans for a smaller presence than the future Afghan generals expected, Perhaps numbering 3.000, 6.000 or 9.000 U.S. troops.
Obama's domestic political Opponents, however, charge que le president is in a rush for the exit and warn That Could squander a minimum strength gains hard won in a war killed more than That HAS 3.000 coalition troops.
The White House this week even Suggested That Obama Would not even rule out the Possibility of leaving zero American boots on the ground.
This HAS compounded fears Afghan que le country Could be abandoned by the international community again - as it was the end of the Effective Soviet occupation in 1989.
The power vacuum led to the rise of the Taliban, and a safe haven for Al-Qaeda to plot the September 11 attacks, Which drew the United States into war in Afghan year 2001.
Obama Said That Friday DESPITE the huge, human and financial cost of the 12-year-war, it was significant to Recognize That It HAD beens waged in response to attacks and HAD Those Achieved its central goals.
"There is no doubt que le Possibility of peace and prosperity in Afghanistan today is Higher Than before we went in," he said.
"Have we Achieved Everything that Might Have some imagined Achieving us in the best of scenarios? Probably not. You know, there is a human enterprise and you fall short of the ideal."
Obama and Karzai is for two hours before sitting down together for lunch and Their seal holding press conference.
That year gave Karzai Undertaking Would he stand down at the end of his second term, Effective elections in 2014, Following some concerns That Could he try to cling onto power, or influence of his successor Eventual behind the scenes.
"The greatest achievements of my Eventually, seen by the Afghan people, will be a proper, well-organized, interference-free election in Which the Afghan people can elect Their next president," he said.
"And Certainly I will be a retired president, and very happily a retired president," he vowed, in response to a question about the 2014 vote has joined White House press conference with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Karzai was Elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2009, in two votes marred by allegations of electoral fraud and Widespread Held against the backdrop of year Ongoing War Between NATO-backed government forces, and Taliban guerrillas.
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