U.S. President Obama Will Announce On Tuesday Changes In US Troop Withdraw Plans From Afghanistan

Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Analyst: Why U.S. troops need to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2016

(CNN)The first state visit to the United States of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, which begins this week, was supposed to take place in early March. But the visit was delayed because Republican leaders had invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress during the same time period.

According to two Afghan government officials involved in the planning for the visit, the Afghan government believed American media attention would be largely focused on Netanyahu, so the first U.S. visit of the new Afghan president was delayed by two weeks, which is a useful reminder that there is a sound reason why congressional leaders shouldn't unilaterally extend invitations to foreign leaders.

Ghani and Abdullah arrive in Washington on Sunday.

More News On U.S. Troop Withdrawals From Afghanistan

Obama expected Tuesday to announce change in US troop withdraw -- FOX News
US Pullout From Afghanistan Hinged to Developing Forces -- AP
Obama may alter the drawdown but is still determined to end the Afghan war -- Washington Post
More US Troops Seen Staying in Afghanistan -- NYT
President Obama to slow military pullback from Afghanistan; post-2016 plan intact -- Nola.com
The Endless War Continues? US to Keep Bases in Afghanistan Open Past 2015 -- Sputnik
Exclusive: U.S. likely to delay planned closure of two Afghanistan bases -- Reuters
Will US bases in Afghanistan stay open? -- The Hill