May 21st, 2012
11:14 AM ET

NATO takes up Obama timetable to end war in Afghanistan by 2014

President Barack Obama called Monday for NATO countries to sign off on his exit strategy from Afghanistan that calls for an end to combat operations next year and the withdrawal of the U.S.-led international military force by the end of 2014.

Against a backdrop of demonstrations that saw violent clashes between protesters and police, NATO and world leaders opened the second day of their Chicago summit with a focus on the unpopular war and how to pay for shoring up Afghanistan's security forces.

Obama told the dozens of heads of state in attendance, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai, that NATO can agree on both the timetable for withdrawing foreign forces from Afghanistan and a long-term plan for the strategic alliance to support the central Asian country's security forces.

The goal is to "responsibly bring this war to an end" in the next 19 months, Obama said in welcoming remarks Monday. He cited a recent strategic partnership agreement he signed with Karzai as a step toward ensuring that "as Afghans stand up, they will not stand alone."

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Filed under: Afghanistan • Barack Obama • Illinois • NATO • U.S. • World
soundoff (4 Responses)
  1. saywhat

    We cannot continue footing the bill and sacrificing American lives for continuing this misadventure or for any other war.. Our European allies are already jittery.
    The GOP driven House just passed a bill authorizing use of force against Iran and adding 8 billion dollars more to the military budget. That surely reflects on their collective abandonment of reason, vision and disloyalty to the interests of America & its people.

    May 21, 2012 at 11:23 am | Report abuse |
  2. Tooter

    I wonder how many will be killed while feet are dragging in bringing our troops home. They should have come home long ago.

    May 21, 2012 at 1:34 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

    Afghan President Hamid Karzai probably never asked why I-94 and I-80 have been tore up for 30 years or more. He probably never got the chance to enjoy Chicago "sliders" (White Castle). You mean he didn't even get the chance to "bid" on Barracks former seat?

    May 21, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Report abuse |
  4. chrissy

    @ saywhat, WORD! Our HOUSE has just showed the American people and the world in general that they traitors to our country. Its time to boot them out of those positions!

    May 21, 2012 at 10:02 pm | Report abuse |
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