Will The U.S. Withdraw All Of It's Forces From Afghanistan?

No Bluff: U.S. Planning Possible Withdrawal Of All Troops From Afghanistan -- Barbara Starr and Tom Cohen, CNN

Washington (CNN) -- We're not bluffing, the Obama administration told Afghanistan on Tuesday in announcing for the first time it has started planning for the possible withdrawal of all U.S. troops by the end of the year if no security agreement is signed.

Statements by the White House and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel showed President Barack Obama's impatience with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's refusal to sign the agreement that would keep several thousand American troops in the country after combat operations conclude this year.

In a phone call with Karzai on Tuesday to discuss upcoming elections for a new Afghan leader, Obama made clear that time was running out to properly plan for keeping any U.S. forces in the country beyond 2014, the White House said.

Meanwhile, a senior Pakistani official warned that pulling out U.S. troops could have dire consequences, leading to a civil war in Afghanistan.

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My Comment: The U.S. left Iraq .... a far more important strategic country to the U.S. than Afghanistan. So .... will the U.S. do the same for Afghanistan .... I must confess that a part of me is hoping that this will be the case. But realistically .... I doubt that such a withdrawal is going to happen. The return of safe havens for terror groups in Afghanistan would be a major strategic failure for the U.S.  .... and it would be a lasting legacy for the Obama administration .... a legacy that I am sure President Obama will not want.. My prediction .... Karzai's predecessor will sign the agreement, and there will be a few thousand U.S. soldiers and advisers in the field conducting training programs and .... if need be .... special ops against terror leaders.