Secret US and Afghanistan Talks Could See Troops Stay for Decades

[tekisui]

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.

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

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. They have to be there to protect us from the Mighty Taliban Navy.

[sakabatou]

2. *facebludgeon*

[KansDem]

3. This wouldn't have anything to do with the pipeline, would it?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cSnUkhOOngc/TFAMaAxahTI/AAAAAAAAFJs/wA7f8-KBDD4/s1600/afghanistan+pipeline.jpeg

Nah, I didn't think so...

[steelmania75]

4. JUST LEAVE!