Howard LaFranchi, CSM: What is driving a remarkable shift in US-Afghan relations?
On Tuesday, President Obama announced that 9,800 US troops would remain in Afghanistan through the end of 2015, a shift from a planned drawdown of troops.
Washington — When Afghan President Ashraf Ghani opened his visit to Washington this week by thanking American troops and taxpayers for their years of sacrifice in support of his country, it marked a remarkable shift in the US–Afghan relationship.
That shift is more than just a matter of tone.
There is no comparing the words of Mr. Ghani with the confrontational bearing and suspicious nature of his predecessor, Hamid Karzai. Mr. Karzai was convinced of official US maneuverings against him at every turn, and he railed against what he considered to be American disregard for Afghan sovereignty and the lives of Afghan civilians.
WNU Editor: One can easily say that realities on the ground have changed and made this shift possible .... Afghan Realities Prompt Obama to Slow the U.S. Withdrawal (Bloomberg) .... but it is also true that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has brought a new atmosphere and altitude towards U.S. - Afghan relations. There is no question in my mind that if President Karzai was still in power .... President Obama would never have agreed to keep troops in Afghanistan as he did today. Unfortunately .... this new policy brings a big price .... the Afghan war is not going to end soon for the U.S. .... Is the US War in Afghanistan Actually Over? (Jack Detsch, The Diplomat).
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