With the war in Afghanistan winding down after 11 years, President Barack Obama says the time is right for US forces to let Afghans do their own job to maintain security in the country.
In a radio and Internet address Saturday, Obama said he will announce the next phase of drawdown in the coming months. Afghan president Hamid Karzai was in Washington the past four days for extensive discussions with top American officials. Their talks, which focused on a transition in security and economy, presidential elections in Afghanistan and reconciliation with the Taliban, appeared to have narrowed differences between the two countries.
Obama announced "a support role" for American and NATO forces in Afghanistan starting this spring instead of this summer, setting himself on track to wind down faster a costly and unpopular war. He also won a pledge of help from his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in pushing for legal immunity for expected American residual forces in Afghanistan after 2014 when most coalition troops exit.