Obama Open to Fully Removing Troops From Afghanistan After 2014

Also dependent on development of Afghan army

The White House is open to removing all troops from Afghanistan after 2014, once the U.S. combat mission expires. Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, explained "the U.S. does not have an inherent objective" of the number of troops there. Press secretary Jay Carney once added that the post-2014 American presence would be “very limited." But White House South Asia advisor Doug Lute said decisions would be determined by the atmosphere on the ground, and how well-equipped Afghans are to defend themselves. "If the Afghan capacity continues on positive glide path and we reach our goals in terms of the development of the army, the police, then you can imagine they require less support,” he said. (NBC)

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