U.S. TO BE IN AFGHANISTAN FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS

"... The United States has spent more than $223 billion on the Afghan war since 2001, and it now costs roughly $65 billion annually... these figures omit the replacement cost of military equipment, veterans' benefits and other war-related expenses... And we are not close to winning... a recent pro-war report from the Center for American Progress said success will require "prolonged U.S. engagement using all elements of U.S. national power" for "as long as another ten years." Success also requires creating an army and police force larger than the Afghan government can afford, which means Kabul will need US assistance indefinitely..."
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091109/walt