Obama: America Open to Leaving U.S. Troops in Afghanistan After Drawdown Date

During the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, President Barack Obama told the members of Congress that the government was open to leaving American troops in Afghanistan after the final 2014 drawdown date. He said that, in conjunction with NATO allies and with the consent of the Afghan government, a small force may remain in that country to conduct counterterror operations.

“After 2014, we will support a unified Afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future,” Obama said. If the Afghan government signs an agreement that we have negotiated, a small force of Americans could stay in Afghanistan with NATO allies to carry out two narrow missions: training and assisting Afghan forces, and counterterror operation to pursue any remnants of Al Qaeda.”

“While our relationship with Afghanistan will change, one thing will not, our resolve that terrorists do not launch attacks against our country,” he concluded.

Watch the clip below via Fox News Channel:

[Photo via screen grab ]

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