Troop Withdrawel from Afghanistan

Our nation has been fighting in Afghanistan for the past 13 years. If a security agreement is not reached soon, U.S. forces are supposed to withdraw by the end of 2014. The article quotes General Dunford as saying "Transition means finishing the job. ... [Full] withdrawal means abandoning the people of Afghanistan and providing al-Qaida space to rebuild," while the counter argument made by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is that, "Our mission was to fight terrorists, not to rebuild that nation,” he said. “Are we going to tell the American people that we have to maintain a presence in perpetuity in Afghanistan."

Do you think maintaining a presence in Afghanistan benefits the U.S.? If so, how? Do you think we should maintain a military presence in Afghanistan? Why or why not?

http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140312/NEWS05/303120042/Dunford-Lack-Afghanistan-agreement-doesn-t-affect-U-S-troops-yet

Dunford: Lack of Afghanistan agreement doesn't affect U.S. troops yet

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the lack of a new security agreement for American troops there doesn't create additional risk and won't affect any operations through the end of this summe...