In line with President Obama’s formal commitment, U.S. troops should start withdrawing from Afghanistan on 1 July 2010 in order to have completely cleared out of the country by 31 June 2011.

However, in an interview with the Financial Times [1], Doctor Henry Kissinger suggested that the calender should be reviewed in accordance with the reality on the ground and that public opinion should be prepared to face a much longer war.

This statement is in keeping with a campaign to support the Afghanistan war, kicked off by declarations made by President Karzai during his visit to Washington and by an article in the New York Times underscoring the benefits that the United States could reap from a prolonged occupation in Afghanistan and the exploitation of its mineral wealth [2] [3].

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[1] « Interview with Henry Kissinger », by Daniel Dombey, Financial Times, 28 June 2010.

[2] « NATO prospecting for Afghanistan’s mineral riches », Voltaire Network, 16 June 2010.

[3] « NYT planted story on Afghan mineral wealth to prolong U.S. occupation, spur Petraeus presidential bid », by Webster G. Tarpley, Voltaire Network, 27 June 2010.