Obama is locked into his promise to draw down NATO troops from Afghanistan this summer. He has little choice, as British forces will begin to withdraw, thus depriving the US operation of its international legitimacy, however thin.
But the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated further, with the Taliban assassinating Karzai’s brother, a provincial ruler. So far the Taliban are winning against the puppet government in Kabul, and that situation will only be worsened by improving ties with Saudi Arabia and a return to business-as-usual with Pakistan which previously balanced its cooperation with the Taliban by allowing the US to conduct some drone raids against their officials. The Russians remain the only party with a traditional dislike of the Taliban, but their influence in Afghanistan is small. The Taliban are thus not inclined to offer the White House any concessions that will enable the US to make a show of ‘withdrawing with honor,’ especially now that the UNSC has rescinded their status as a terrorist organization.
With Al Qaeda getting a foothold in Syria .Hezbollah not only rearmed but with better weapons and rockets. The Muslim Brotherhood about to take over Egypt and is already threatening to rethink the Peace Treaty with Israel. Iran about to go nuclear and soon to be followed by Saudi Arabia. Now after years of bloodshed and war the Taliban is about to return to Afghanistan. Its obvious that there have been changes in the Middle East since President Obama has been in office. Sometimes it gets confusing who Israel’s friends are.