By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s withdrawal plan for Afghanistan marks the beginning of the end of a troop-intensive approach to countering a Taliban insurgency that until recent months had fought the U.S. and its NATO allies to a standstill.
As the war grinds on, the Obama administration will shift the U.S. military’s focus more toward targeting terrorist leaders, while giving Afghans more of the lead in fighting – and eventually reconciling with – the Taliban.
What remains in doubt is the endgame: finding a political solution to the conflict.
Are the Taliban under enough military pressure to compel them to enter serious peace talks with Kabul? Robert Gates, the soon-to-retire defense secretary, thinks not – at least not before the end of this year. But recognizing that Afghans and Americans alike are weary of war, Gates concedes that the current troop-intensive U.S. approach is not sustainable.