I am reading the different reports about NATO planning to leave - "hand over to Afghanistani forces" - in 2014 as Obama planning to declare victory next year and start pulling out troops in time for the 2012 election.

Attempts to buy of the Pashtun insurgency indicates a similar strategy as in Iraq. Pay the winning insurgents not to attack while the US pulls out. Since Awakening Councils has already been used, maybe they will use a different term for the temporarily bought insurgents.

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