U.S. Continues To Press Afghanistan To Sign Security Agreement Even As The Deadline Passes

AFGHAN LUNCH - Leaders from coalition and Afghan security forces eat lunch together at the Afghan border police headquarters in Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Oct. 8, 2013. U.S Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Walter L. Miller Jr., commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, and other staff members traveled to the police headquarters to attend a promotion ceremony. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tammy K. Hineline

Pentagon Urges Afghanistan To Sign Agreement On US Military Presence -- The Guardian

• Karzai yet to sign deal to keep US troops in country after 2014
• Poll shows Afghan war most unpopular conflict in US history

As the war in Afghanistan becomes the most unpopular conflict in US polling history, the Pentagon reiterated a plea for the Afghan government to entrench an enduring American military presence.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has so far declined to sign an accord called the Bilateral Security Agreement, upending plans for some US troops to stay in the country after the war formally ends in December 2014. The US has unsuccessfully urged other Afghan government officials to bless a long-term presence that has already stretched into its 13th year.

“We are prepared to sign the agreement,” Steve Warren, the acting Pentagon spokesman, said on Monday.

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Update: Karzai fails to meet security deadline -- Radio New Zealand

My Comment: I still expect this security agreement will be signed .... but I must confess that I have a hope that Karzai will be foolish enough to not sign it there by giving the White House and NATO the excuse to leave.