Afghan Deal Nears Collapse

So, this does not sound promising. The U.S. could remove all troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year if Afghan President Hamid Karzai does not sign a long-term security agreement, the White House said on Tuesday. Despite the agreement having the backing of influential Afghan elders, Karzai has refused to sign and even sent a new list of demands on Monday to the Obama administration—including a call for the release of the 17 Afghan citizens being held at the prison at Guantánamo Bay. White House adviser Susan Rice and Karzai issued dueling statements on Tuesday with Rice threatening the “zero option,” a complete withdrawal that would be similar to the plan initiated in Iraq two years ago.