Updates from the Afghanistan Study Group Afghanistan Weekly Reader: Despite Panetta's Comment, Afghanistan War Budget for 2013 is $90 Billion

From ASG
1/31/12
Average American Weekly Income: $1,200. Weekly War Costs: $1,800,000,000
Afghanistan Study Group by Mary Kaszynski
Americans now see that the few benefits of the war in Afghanistan are not worth the enormous costs. At a time when many American families are struggling, the amount of money spent on the war in Afghanistan doesn’t make sense.
ARTICLES
2/1/12
Panetta Says U.S. to End Afghan Combat Role as Soon as 2013
New York Times by Elisabeth Blumiller
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Wednesday that American forces would step back from a combat role there as early as mid-2013, more than a year before all American troops are scheduled to come home.
OPINION
1/26/12
The Afghan divide
LA Times by Sarah Chayes
How should we measure success in Afghanistan? It's a crucial question, but there isn't much agreement on an answer.
2/1/12
Obama’s Faster, Smarter Afghan Exit
The Daily Beast by Les Gelb
With this strategy, the administration accomplishes three goals: (1) U.S. troops are removed from combat earlier, reducing lives lost and cost; (2) U.S. troops return home earlier; and (3) both security and political risks are made manageable.