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Subscribe to RSSThe White House is pushing back on the notion that a decision has been made about changing the timeline on an end to the United States' combat role in Afghanistan.
In a widely reported interview from aboard a plane en route to Brussels on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the U.S. would end its combat role in Afghanistan as early as mid-2013.
Panetta: US to end combat in Afghanistan next year
But on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney emphasized that nothing has changed in President Barack Obama's promised 2014 withdrawal from the 10-year war, NBC News reported.
"What Panetta said is that it could happen, that the transition to an Afghan security lead could be moved up to 2013, but he was not making an announcement about a decision that had been made," Carney said, NBC News reported. Panetta was just talking about discussions in Brussels, Carney said.
Still, U.S. military leaders joined NATO's top official and France in Brussels on Thursday in calling for Afghan forces to take the lead in all combat operations by mid-2013, The Associated Press reported.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also suggested in recent days that the coalition should gradually transition out of combat in 2013.
In 2010, NATO leaders agreed that Afghan forces would take control province by province until they have full responsibility for security in all of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Until now, it was widely assumed that coalition troops would retain the lead role in military operations until that final handover.
End of combat mission in Afghanistan doesn't mean safety for US forces
But under the arrangement being discussed by NATO defense ministers in Brussels this week, coalition troops would no longer lead combat missions after mid- to late-2013, although they would still provide assistance to the Afghans.
Although some officials insisted publicly that the allies were united in the transition goals, a senior NATO official told The Associated Press that there is some disagreement about the newly suggested timeframe.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss closed-door discussions, said the expectation is that no final decision on the timing is expected before the NATO summit in Chicago in May.
Speaking to reporters before the two-day meeting in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Afghanistan remains the alliance's top operational priority, and that the coalition has been making progress in the war.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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"Spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss closed-door discussions" have you ever heard such double speak out of any White House before this one?
In the words of Team Obama "push back" means "change story."
Only an idiot would believe a war is run on a timetable. If things change, who would want the troops to stay longer. We should have been out years ago anyway.
The press never get anything correct so what a shock.
We should just go ahead and pull our troops out now. All we are doing by remaining there is delaying the inevitable. The Karzai government is a joke. They barely have any control within the capitol of Kabul and have absolutely no control anywhere else. In the provinces things are controlled by local warlords and tribal leaders, many of whom either support, or at least tolerate the Taliban. Once the US pulls out the Karzai government will be history and Afghanistan will descend into chaos for a short period. Then the Taliban, through intimidation and bribery will once again take control of the country.
THIS is what Panetta said--contrary to White House "push back" reflected in this article.
Lesson? Obama will lie, buy votes, say anything to get reelected. No one can trust him. He is on a roll.
double post
The only thing that seems to be missing here is that we don't have Obama in a flight suit standing on a carrier flight deck in front of a sign that reads "Mission Accomplished."
What war are you talking about here? The fact is, we haven't been in any actual war since WW2. America is simply occupying their country, in order to reinforce the dictatorship of the puppet leaders that our government has put in place there.
If these politicians refuse to end these senseless expensive wars then dammit, raise the taxes on the rich and corporations to pay for them!
But it gets votes.........because people tend to believe rumors more than facts.
Hey Panetta, once you pick a firm date, make sure you let the Taliban and Al Quaida know right away, you hear?
Hey Spider - Do you really believe they won't know before we do? There's already a timetable in place and I'm pretty sure they know what it is. Besides that, if we stay there another 20 years do you believe it will change anything?
What part of "hopes" don't you understand?
Neither of these were not said by "Team Obama" it was what the reporter wrote.
Sounds like the media was reading between the lines where there wasn't anything to read. "We hope to be out by 2013" suddenly turns into a new timetable? Reading comprehension hits another low.
in my opinion, staying in Afghan to fight Taliban or whom ever is like fighting a ghost... impossible!
Leaving Afghanistan will give the Taliban and who ever the chance to regroup and be powerfull again! they lost their Land! they will do anything to get it back.
US knows if they leave, its like leaving the lion cage open..
Does it really matter when we leave? Those savages will go back to fighting and killing each other whether we boogie out of there in 2013 or 9013.
The only thing we CAN control about this war is how many MORE names we want etched on those black shiny granite memorials at Arlington. That's it.
Nice to know some things NEVER change (*sarc*)
Next topic, please.
"Closed door discussion" -- "How do we play this to get the votes of both those who want us out now and those who say 'finish the job'?"
The fighting and killing started after USSR was defeated and USA simply walked away from the region. USA had a huge responsibility to support the democratic process and do its due part i.e. support the rebuilding of the bleagured country after a devastating war but what it did was just leave the scene. The splinter groups were left with lots of weapons. Soon they were at each other's throats. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran tried to bring peace through negotiations but to no avail. They are to be partially blamed as well. The result was a complete chaos. A new group that no one had ever heard of namely "Taliban" took advantage and thrusted itselves on the devastated nation.
It is easy to blame others and not look at your own faults!
On top of one mistake after another, Clinton did the most stupid thing! He bombed a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan and rained missiles on madrasahs/trainig camps in Afghanistan after the Nairobi Embassy bombing. Apparantly lots of civilians but not many militants were killed by this display of force. He wanted to deflect attention from the Lewinski scandal. The rest is recent history!
Yet again, this is the Media contempt for being 10 steps too late. Pundits jumping the gun is like Gingrich jumping the broom.
Let the spin begin in 3, 2, 1... GO!
What is there to spin. Obviously the Defense Secretary and White House are clearly not on the same page.
Sounds more to me like somebody had their ear to the door, heard part of the conversation and ran off to tell the media.
dr. girlfriend - Panetta was interviewed on camera. This was no behind the scenes hearsay. Panetta is very straight-forward speaker and is what you would expect out of SecDef.
Panetta also said "hopes to end its combat mission" that does not sound certain to me. As a former commander of mine would tell us on a daily basis, hope isn't a method used in successful operations
"Speaking to reporters before the two-day meeting in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Afghanistan remains the alliance's top operational priority, and that the coalition has been making progress in the war."
What progress? The only thing changing is the rising death toll of solders dropped into that country with unattainable goals.
Our goverment can't make a decicion anymore and the people need to do something about it.
WHAT???
The article says the U.S. is currently in discussions regarding drawing down ; since the U.S. is part of NATO, it would be unfair and completely irresponsible for the U.S. to make such a decision w/o at least discussing it with it's NATO partners and the Afghanistan government. Because NATO is comprised of several nations, it would only make sense that EVERYBODY involved needs to be part of the discussion and agree on the time frame.
What do you suggest...that the U.S. sneak out in the middle of the night and hope that nobody notices?
Everyone else is leaving and we will the only ones left. We better get out in 2013...or sooner would be nice.
NATO??? Yeah, they about 5 backpacks in the game! The USA has 100,000 troops in the game!
BigPaul, since we are also a member of NATO, then wouldn't NATO have 100,005 troops? Anyway, the rest of NATO has about 45,000 troops there.
I saw the interview with Panetta and what the White House is saying and how it really went are two different stories, but what can you expect from this White House admin? All the promises and empty words are just that. Nothing positive has come out of the White House in many, many years, no matter what administration has held it.
Obama had a mandate to end the fake war 3 years ago. He failed his job and is a liar.
As compared to his predecessor who lied us into an unnecessary war and borrowed the money from China to fund it. If you're going to compare failures...
Actually Obama ran on the promise of ending the Iraq war and focusing on Afghanistan.
Wait a minute! Who's on first? Who's quarterbacking? Leon just yesterday beat the administration to the punch. OOPS....
Excellent!
ELP?
Yes, the White House before this one! It is true though that W was more prone to lies than double-speak.
"dr.girlfriend
What do you suggest...that the U.S. sneak out in the middle of the night and hope that nobody notices?"
You mean like we did in Viet Nam?
And vietnam hasn't been a problem on the world stage since, right?
We've got no real reason to be there anymore. We we in after Bin Ladin and Al Quida. One is dead and the other has moved on. Our only gripe with the Taliban is that they didn't hand Bin Ladin over to us when we told them to do so or else.
Sticking around and building schools in Afghanistan is a pipe dream. They don't want to be more like us so even trying to change them is stupid. If they want to live in the mud let them live in the mud. You'll make fewer enemies that way.
Vietnam, still painful and anguishing.
Wy did MSNBC stop publishing the daily US troop death toll after Obama became President?
You too noticed that apparently no one has died since obama took the reigns of power? There isn't any bias in the media is there? Truth is more have died in Afghanistan in the last three years than the 7 years previous.
Probably for the very same reason that most of the major networks are omitting the fact that we still have residual troops in Kuwait today that will be home in the spring. None of the news orgs have reported it - but stated wrongfully that all came home at once. This soldier's mother has noted that as evidence in the event their reporting alters their homecoming in any way.
Better for the public to find out beyond what the news media claims. I have an Email from an officer if anyone wishes to review it regarding this issue.
Mackie, It is logistically impossible to re-deploy 140,000 troops and all the equipment at the same time, it took months to redeploy from Desert Storm and it will take as long or longer this time. They are in Kuwait because 1, that is where they have to load their equipment on ships, and 2. The military requires at least 3 weeks for troops to "decompress" before sending them home.
I think obama is waiting to see the results of the opinion polls before he makes a decision.
Why I like your username. I think we need to promote that idea. It is a sound idea.
Good point. Obama ALSO is waiting for MORE $$$ campaign contributions from the military industrial complex.
Convictions? Ha! The guy already collected more campaign contributions from Wall Street than all prior politicians combined.
I suppose you have proof to your assertion.
Seems like everyone is an expert at war. Romney knows best, "we've got to do what the Generals say", and the media experts know that we have to stay at war until we kill all our enemies, NOT! War is hell and the sooner you can get out of hell the better. We went into Iraq under false pretenses, and now, all the hoopla is trying to scare up a war with Iran. Remember WMD? Well, if Iran does get a nuclear bomb, why is it that we think they will use it? Why is it worth killing unknown numbers of civilians, on both sides, to stop something we know so little about? Listen to Ron Paul, he's the only one that makes any sense on this issue. Pakistan has a nuclear bomb, Israel maybe, and a host of other small friendlies to us, now, but if we don't learn to start talking plainly to our friends and enemies, we will only blow up each other, for no possible gain. We need diplomacy, and we need it now. Hilliary is doing a good job, give peace a chance!
this administration is such a bunch of clowns.
Where's Fiesty to defend her King Obama?
This has to be the most dysfunctional administration in history.
yes.
it will go down as one of the worst.
Carter smiles every time he goes to sleep.
Actually, I think Obama falls below Coolidge or Andrew Jackson!
When U.S. officials such as President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta discuss the war in Afghanistan and make claims of success in that fledgling democracy, one issue that's avoided is the widespread sexual intercourse between Afghan men and young boys. In non- diplomatic terms, Afghanistan is a haven for child rape, according to several American military officers just returning from the frontlines of the Global War on Terrorism.
Pedophilia is a widely-accepted practice in southern Afghanistan, where "boys are given to older men for the sexual gratification of the elder and the sexual education of the child," say many returning U.S. troops.
does Barney Frank know this?
Don't forget the oppression and victimization of women, too. - RC
I absolutely love the continuity of this administration. The left hand never knows what the right hand is doing.
Panetta just found out he is working for a corrupt, duplicitous liar who sold him out one day after saying we'd be out of Afghanistan by mid 2013.
Just one more casualty in Obama's quest to stay in power.
Funny how quickly the "Fast and Furious" story got pulled down....
How do you figure that liar? Panetta did not say we would be out of Afghanistan by mid 2013. He said
What part of HOPES do you not understand? He also said HOPES to end combat missions and transistion to training, advising and assisting. He did not say we would be OUT.
So now the president has "unsurrendered"? This guy obama is a loser and should be sent back to Chicago where he can use his alleged intelligence and leadership to organize a community. obama has done more than enough damage to our nation. ANYONE BUT obama IN 2012!
Here we go again. I am so tired of getting "burned" by the Obama administration. Almost every time I agree with them and compliment them, this happens. Sorry, but I have to take back all of my compliments and encouragement again, and it is extremely unlikely that I am ever going to side with them (or even compliment them) publicly again. - RC
Hey Rick? No worries. You are not the only American duped by this fraud obama. Make sure you vote for his opponent in November and all will be forgiven!! ANYONE but OBAMA IN 2012!
(Every time the Obama administration crosses over into my point of view, they go 'wonky'. I need to remember to wait at least a month or two before agreeing with them on any new position. God forbid that I should ever publicly compliment them again. Even then, I am still risking a whole lot. Go figure!) - RC
Do we have a "Commander-in-chief" or just a puppet running around w/ its head cut off?
Speaking of decisions, has anyone read this? I find it extremely interesting since the lame media has not said word one.
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-atlanta/atlanta-court-holds-hearing-on-obama-eligibility
I have been following this case and it is very interesting. obama has a lot of explaining to do. Will MSNBC cover this story? Does MSNBC engage in journalism? ANYONE BUT obama IN 2012!
mcpaddy.........Then you too have noticed that absolutely NOTHING has hit the press. No one knows about this, there has been nothing on TV, newspapers, MSNBC (Most Selective News Baloney Service). Absolutely nothing.
Is our press THAT controlled by the government?
I wonder how many even in here will have a look. Don't you?
I don't know Optomyst, maybe it has something to do with an administrative court in Georgia has no authority to rule on whether the President meets the Constitutional requirement? Only federal courts can do that. But the Judge has already denied one of Taints motions. In which she requested that the judge order/request that Hawaii release the President's records, stating that he had no jurisdiction.
raddave...............This is a Federal Judge, in a Federal Court. If anything, a Federal entity would have jurisdiction.
This is really bothering me. Not the subject of the case as much as the fact that it has been buried. Why isn't it all over the news???????
It is not a Federal judge, nor a federal court. He is a judge in the Georgia state court of Administrative hearings. This excerpt is from the World Nut Daily
.In the courtroom of Judge Michael Malihi of the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings, sworn testimony was delivered rapid-fire over two hours to the effect that Obama is not qualified to have his name on the 2012 presidential ballot because his father was not a U.S. citizen, which precludes him from being a "natural-born citizen," a clear, unambiguous requirement of the Constitution.
It's not in the news because it's not news. Taint has filed so many lawsuits in so many states that it is ridiculous. She has even been fined by a court for filing frivolous lawsuits.
What needs to be done is to bring our troops home ASAP-I know that Ron Paul will . How many more fine men and money we do not have ,is going to be wasted there. By now most people realize that Obama represents the 1% and he will keep us in endless wars, sell the rest of our jobs to China, keep open borders and try to limit our freedoms so that we do not rebel . Signing recent document contrary to our Constitution that permits arrest of American citizens on americaan soil without the due process of law and the Operation Fast and Furious at our border , tells the bad news-same 1% agenda , different faces.