American and coalition forces will move into a "support" role in Afghanistan starting this spring, President Obama announced Friday afternoon at the White House during a joint news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Obama said Afghan soldiers "are stepping up" and U.S. forces can now step back.
American troops will still be available for combat missions if needed, the president said. But the news marks a shift in the description of the role U.S. forces will play in Afghanistan this year. Before today, the administration's focus had been on the withdrawal of "combat" forces by the end of 2014.
There are about 66,000 U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, where American forces toppled the Taliban in November 2001.
We live blogged during the news conference.
Update at 2:17 p.m. ET. In Conclusion, Obama Speaks Of The Future For Afghan Women:
Asked whether Afghan women should be worried about what will happen to them, President Obama speaks of the new Afghan constitution that pledges to respect women's rights and says it would be a mistake for that nation not to tap the talents of its women.
Update at 2:10 p.m. ET. Afghanistan's Fortunes Are Brighter, Obama Says:
"Afghanistan still has work to do," says Obama, "but there's no doubt that the possibility of peace and prosperity in Afghanistan today is higher than before we went in." And, he says, the U.S. has "achieved our central goal ... or have come very close." That is, "to decapitate al-Qaida ... to dismantle it."
Update at 2:07 p.m. ET. Like Turkey Or Germany?
Karzai says the U.S. presence in Afghanistan in coming years may resemble its presences in "Turkey or Germany" — two NATO allies.
Update at 2:05 p.m. ET. "Very Different Mission":
Obama calls the shift in the spring "a very different mission and a very different task and a very different footprint" for U.S. and coalition forces.
Update at 1:57 p.m. ET. Not Clear Yet Whether Withdrawal Will Be Accelerated:
Whether the earlier-than-anticipated transition of U.S. forces to a "support" role means U.S. forces will be able to withdraw sooner, Obama says, is "something that isn't yet fully determined." He says commanders are developing recommendations for him on that point. The plan has been for all U.S. "combat" forces to be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Update at 1:50 p.m. ET. Afghan Forces Will Be "Fully Responsible" For Security This Spring:
"In the spring this year, the Afghan forces will be fully responsible for providing security and protection to the Afghan people," Karzai says in his opening comments.
He also says the presidents have agreed that Taliban officials should be allowed to open an office in Qatar. That's another sign the leaders are trying to bring some elements of the Taliban into discussions about Afghanistan's future.
Update at 1:44 p.m. ET. Obama Says U.S. Mission Will Turn To Support This Spring:
Saying it twice to emphasize the point, Obama says he and Karzai have agreed that "coalition forces will move to a support role this spring. ... Starting this spring, our troops will have a different mission."
They will be available, he says, to support combat missions if needed.
Update at 1:42 p.m. ET. News Conference Has Begun:
The two presidents are at the microphones. In his opening remarks, Obama hails the sacrifices of American forces and the Afghan people, and says that in 2014, "this war will come to a responsible end."
Update at 1:10 p.m. ET. Joint Statement:
The White House just released a joint statement from the leaders. It does not specifically address U.S. troop levels. Here's the relevant section:
"During their meetings, the Presidents welcomed recent improvements in Afghanistan's security environment. The Leaders welcomed Afghan security forces' increasing assumption of lead responsibility, noting the marked progress made in the growth and capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Exceeding initial expectations, Afghan forces began leading the majority of operations in July 2012 and now lead approximately 80% of operations. In February, in conjunction with the fourth tranche of transition, the ANSF is expected to have the lead in securing nearly 90% of the Afghan population.
"Consistent with Afghan priorities, Leaders at the Chicago Summit committed to mark a milestone in mid-2013 when the ISAF mission would shift from combat to support. President Obama welcomed President Karzai's desire to mark this milestone this spring, when the ANSF are expected to assume the operational lead across Afghanistan, and ISAF will move into an advisor-support role. This milestone would coincide with announcing the fifth and final tranche of transition, which would commence implementation in the summer, subject to final NATO and Afghan approval.
"At the time of the milestone, most unilateral U.S. combat operations should end, with U.S. forces pulling back their patrols from Afghan villages. Both Leaders recognized that, as the Afghan security forces take greater responsibility for security, improving the quality of the ANSF, including the accelerated provision of appropriate equipment and enablers, remains a key priority.
"Building upon significant progress in 2012 to transfer responsibility for detentions to the Afghan Government, the Presidents committed to placing Afghan detainees under the sovereignty and control of Afghanistan, while also ensuring that dangerous fighters remain off the battlefield. President Obama reaffirmed that the United States continues to provide assistance to the Afghan detention system. The two Presidents also reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the lawful and humane treatment of detainees, and their intention to ensure proper security arrangements for the protection of Afghan, U.S., and coalition forces."
Our original post:
The issue many Americans will want to hear about this afternoon when President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai take questions from reporters at the White House is how many U.S. military personnel will be staying in Afghanistan after 2014, when the U.S. combat mission there is set to officially end.
As The Associated Press writes:
"U.S. commanders in Afghanistan have proposed keeping 6,000 to 15,000 U.S. troops after 2014 to continuing pursuing terrorists and training Afghan security forces. But the White House, which tends to favor lower troop levels than the generals do, says Obama would be open to pulling all U.S. forces out of Afghanistan at the end of 2014."
NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman put it this way Thursday: American military officials think around 6,000 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, but White House officials are "looking to keep the numbers lower than the generals." One important factor: the high cost of operations — more than $600 billion in the past decade and $100 billion this year alone — in Afghanistan.
The two leaders' news conference is being streamed by the White House. We're updating this post with highlights. Later today, NPR's Jackie Northam is due to have more on the Obama-Karzai meeting during All Things Considered. Click here to find an NPR station that broadcasts or streams the show.
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