Meanwhile In Afghanistan

President Obama made a trip to Afghanistan on Tuesday, sending a clear message on the anniversary of Bin Laden capture and death, and signed a deal with Afghan President Karzai to lay out the plan to leave.

“As we emerge from a decade of conflict abroad and economic crisis at home, it is time to renew America. An America where our children live free from fear, and have the skills to claim their dreams. A united America of grit and resilience, where sunlight glistens off soaring new towers in downtown Manhattan, and we build our future as one people, as one nation."

The details of the Afghan deal are pretty specific: 

The agreement, completed after 20 months of arduous negotiations in Washington and Kabul, pledges American support for Afghanistan for 10 years after the withdrawal of the last American soldiers at the end of 2014. More symbol than substance, it nevertheless marks a pivotal transition for the United States from the largest foreign military force in Afghanistan to a staunch, if faraway, ally. 

For the president, facing a re-election battle in which his conduct of the war is likely to be debated into November, the visit is laden with political significance. Senior officials said the agreement showcased Mr. Obama’s determination to end the war responsibly, even as they conceded that the country that American troops leave behind will be a messy, violent place, where the Taliban will keep a foothold. 

Still, the agreement, a senior administration official told reporters traveling on Air Force One, will give the United States “the capacity to carry out the counterterrorism operations that are necessary for Al Qaeda not to resettle,” and help ensure “a regional equilibrium that serves our national security interest — and that’s ultimately why we went in there in the first place.” 

No doubt Republicans will tell us that having a timetable is an impeachable offense, and the usual suspects on the left will tell us having even one support troop in place is worthy of letting Mitt Romney win the White House.

On the other hand, he's ended the war in Iraq and is now ending the war in Afghanistan.  There will also be no permanent bases there, unlike every other US war that we've fought in the last 70 years or so.  No, the GOP wants to fight the President on his foreign policy accomplishments?  Go right ahead, gentlemen.