# The US will keep about 7k troops in Afghanistan until 2024? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603 "2013-11-23T06:23:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/21 "2013-11-26T16:07:06Z")
Some interesting quotes from that article: > [@](#): > > But “in response, President Karzai outlined new conditions for signing the agreement and indicated he is not prepared to sign the BSA promptly”. > > Karzai stressed his demands for “no operations by foreign forces in residential areas, a sincere start of a peace process (with Taliban insurgents), and the holding of transparent elections,” his office said after Monday’s late-night meeting. > [@](#): > > The US has warned that failure promptly to sign the pact could jeopardise billions of dollars in aid, and that Obama had not yet decided whether to keep any American forces in Afghanistan at all beyond 2014. > > The draft text of the BSA released by Kabul appeared to show Karzai had bowed to a US demand that American troops would remain exempt from Afghan jurisdiction if they are accused of crimes. > > The issue of US troop immunity sank a similar deal in Iraq in 2011, leading the Americans to pull out completely. The country is now in the grip of some of its worst sectarian violence since 2008. What exactly is that first one about? Is he implying that the US doesn’t want a fair election? And what is the problem with residential areas? It’s not like the Taliban have established military bases. Where else does he expect troops to conduct operations? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/22 "2013-11-26T16:26:57Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > Some interesting quotes from that article:What exactly is that first one about? Is he implying that the US doesn’t want a fair election? I don’t know. > [@](#): > > And what is the problem with residential areas? It’s not like the Taliban have established military bases. Where else does he expect troops to conduct operations? I think Karzai’s point is that the US should be held to a commitment to not conduct combat operations in the future, such as US troops doing night raids on Afghan homes. Karzai clearly believes that such raids should be the responsibility of Afghan forces. I’m not clear why this is a show stopper, since the US military role, as Obama said, is supposed to transition to a support role – training, logistics, etc. It isn’t immediately clear to me why the US would want to reserve the ability of support troops entering Afghan homes, but my guess is to me that there may be cases where if we find out Mullah Omar is in a residence, then we would want to fly in some guys to go kick the door in as a unique circumstance, as opposed to having lots of door kicking going on as was the case a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/23 "2013-11-26T16:50:19Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > This can’t be a surprise. Has the US completely left any of the places we’ve fought in the past 70 years? Vietnam. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/24 "2013-11-26T17:31:38Z")
I heard on the news his morning that Karzai wants the US to release all Afghan prisoners from Guantanamo before he signs the agreement. I’m sure the US will go along with it, even though “release” is probably code for “send them to Afghan prisons so Karzai’s people can torture and kill them at their leisure.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/25 "2013-11-26T19:07:17Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Vietnam. Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/26 "2013-11-26T19:20:41Z")
I hope this doesn’t go over to Great Debates, but it probably will … they kick butt over there you gotta have bullet proof answers over there lol and with that said I think this is a way to finance Afghanistan for many years to come. They already get loads of money, cash money given to them from Iran, but they like all of these new rules, that we can stay as long as we can’t do anything, but train their troops and let them just up and shoot one of ours whenever they feel like it. No way should we stay. I hope President Obama doesn’t give in to their demands to let the prisoners at Guantanamo go free (returned to Afghanistan is the same thing) even though it was a campaign promise to close Guantanamo it would be the same as giving into terrorist demands to let their people go or else, which the USA has said in the past this is not negotiable. We should bring the South Korean troops home … we can still back up South Korean with our Navy and Airforce if need be, but please bring the Army home all they can do is die from any North Korean attack and I don’t want that. I’m sad we lost so many troops in Vietnam, but due to the pull out we no longer have to spend billions of dollars to provide security for that part of the world. Please President Obama don’t bow down to this demand to let their prisoners return to Afghanistan soil. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/27 "2013-11-26T20:44:34Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > We should bring the South Korean troops home … we can still back up South Korean with our Navy and Airforce if need be, but please bring the Army home all they can do is die from any North Korean attack and I don’t want that. Aren’t the US troops in South Korea stationed along the DMZ? If war flares up again, they’re going to be the first ones in the crosshairs. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/28 "2013-11-26T21:06:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Vietnam. But we wanted to stay. Really, really badly. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/29 "2013-11-26T21:07:18Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Aren’t the US troops in South Korea stationed along the DMZ? If war flares up again, they’re going to be the first ones in the crosshairs. No, virtually all US troops have been taken away from the DMZ and moved well south of Seoul. South Koreans are responsible for the DMZ now. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/30 "2013-11-26T21:36:09Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > My guess is that there will be a coup (military led, perhaps), and Hamid will retire to the South of France. the parallels with Vietnam are pretty strong…and the scenario is the same-the US thinks it can "build"a nation-where one never existed. A nation has existed in Afghanistan since the early 1700’s. It arguably has a longer history as an independent polity than the United States. Before 1973 it was a stable country which was very popular as a hippie tourist destination. Afghanistan is a nation that has been destoyed, not a nation that “never existed”. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/31 "2013-11-26T22:04:25Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > I hope this doesn’t go over to Great Debates, but it probably will … they kick butt over there you gotta have bullet proof answers over there lol and with that said I think this is a way to finance Afghanistan for many years to come. > > They already get loads of money, cash money given to them from Iran, but they like all of these new rules, that we can stay as long as we can’t do anything, but train their troops and let them just up and shoot one of ours whenever they feel like it. > > No way should we stay. In that case, if we withdraw that just means, other powers have more influence than the United States does. > [@](#): > > I hope President Obama doesn’t give in to their demands to let the prisoners at Guantanamo go free (returned to Afghanistan is the same thing) even though it was a campaign promise to close Guantanamo it would be the same as giving into terrorist demands to let their people go or else, which the USA has said in the past this is not negotiable. No it isn’t. > [@](#): > > We should bring the South Korean troops home … we can still back up South Korean with our Navy and Airforce if need be, but please bring the Army home all they can do is die from any North Korean attack and I don’t want that. Again, no it isn’t. The point of stationing the Army in South Korea is to provide a defensive force from a North Korean attack and fight against such an attack. > [@](#): > > I’m sad we lost so many troops in Vietnam, but due to the pull out we no longer have to spend billions of dollars to provide security for that part of the world. > > Please President Obama don’t bow down to this demand to let their prisoners return to Afghanistan soil. :rolleyes: This has to be one of the whiniest posts I’ve seen not just on SDMB but anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/32 "2013-11-26T23:19:20Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > In that case, if we withdraw that just means, other powers have more influence than the United States does. > > No it isn’t. > > Again, no it isn’t. The point of stationing the Army in South Korea is to provide a defensive force from a North Korean attack and fight against such an attack. > > :rolleyes: > > This has to be one of the whiniest posts I’ve seen not just on SDMB but anywhere. If we withdraw we still have the power of life and death over North Korea As for Afghanistan the US does not negotiate with terrorist demands … what the president of Afghanistan is asking for is the same as the terrorist that we have been fighting in that same country. You can’t get to me … the best have tried 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/33 "2013-11-27T00:00:20Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > If we withdraw we still have the power of life and death over North Korea Yes but it’d take far longer for air and naval forces to be deployed to North Korea if you’ve withdrawn from the bases there. > [@](#): > > As for Afghanistan the US does not negotiate with terrorist demands … what the president of Afghanistan is asking for is the same as the terrorist that we have been fighting in that same country. Not unless the Taliban has also demanded that they be put in Afghan jails which I doubt. > [@](#): > > You can’t get to me … the best have tried 🆒 :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/34 "2013-11-27T01:01:39Z")
Maybe this is a clever way to get out with “honor”. Karzai refuse US demands=we say, OK, we leave. I’d be happy with this. Let China police the place-as they extract the mineral wealth! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603/35 "2013-11-27T03:11:42Z")
BTW: Just a side note, but Karzai’s brother owns and operates a restaurant in Washington DC. Or at least he did 10 years ago when a reporter friend of mine tried to interview him but was told politely but firmly that he was unavailable. I wonder if he’s involved in any sort of lobbying efforts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-will-keep-about-7k-troops-in-afghanistan-until-2024/674603.md?page=1)