Commentary: Afghan war fundamentals

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Analysis/de-Borchgrave/2012/02/27/Commentary-Afghan-war-fundamentals/UPI-49361330346293/

Commentary: Afghan war fundamentals

By ARNAUD DE BORCHGRAVE
UPI Editor at Large
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The United States and its NATO allies are having trouble coming to grips with the fundamentals of the decade-long Afghan war.

Following the assassination of two U.S. officers on duty in the inner sanctum of Kabul's most heavily guarded building -- the Interior Ministry -- U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker says the United States must stick it out in Afghanistan otherwise al-Qaida will be back.

But al-Qaida knows the United States is leaving in 2014 and that the exodus will begin next year. With 70 percent of the American people against further U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, U.S. President Barack Obama is accelerating the drawdown.