https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2012/11/24/why-u-s-troops-must-stay-in-afghanistan/feed/HotAir is the leading conservative blog for breaking news and commentary covering the Biden administration, politics, media, culture, and current elections.en-usTue, 09 Jun 2026 06:14:52 -0400<![CDATA[Moving toward this long-term posture in 2013 will likely ensure its failure. As we fall below 68,000 troops, we will have to withdraw from important terrain and lose the ability to maneuver. Our forces won’t be able to operate in most of southern Afghanistan, conduct offensive operations or help the ANSF consolidate and mature. We must create basic stability in 2013 that the ANSF can sustain to set conditions for any long-term U.S. counterterrorism operations. Doing so requires two things this White House appears to want to avoid: keeping U.S. force levels where they are for the next two years; and implementing a serious political strategy aimed not at our enemies but at the people we need to be our long-term partners.]]>Sat, 24 Nov 2012 13:50:09 -0500<![CDATA[Allahpundit]]>https://hotair.com/headlines/2012/11/24/why-u-s-troops-must-stay-in-afghanistan-n97752