As some of you know, I was tentatively scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan in August, then it was pushed back to September, then this week I found out they may not deploy me until the next calendar year.  I know the President has a plan to "transition" many troops in July of next year, but I'm wondering how long we will support Afghanistan with "non-combat" operations.  I'm really looking forward to getting back over there, I'm just hoping we don't pull out before I get a date.  FYI.  I'm a DA civilian and will be supporting various milcon programs.

Here's an article about the issue.  It's a bit on the fence as to whether we will truly pull out in July.  What does the team think?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/07/july-2011-deadline-might-bring-home-just-a-few-thousand-troops.html

When will we leave Germany?
When will we leave Japan?
When will we leave Korea?
When will we leave Kuwait?
When will we leave Iraq?


The answer to your questions is sometime after we leave all of those.

Got it, but with Germany, Japan, and Korea, maybe even with Kuwait at this point, we don't conduct active combat operations.  Iraq just finished combat ops but Iraq and A-Stan are still considered combat/hazardous duty areas.

We'll leave as soon as most Americans figure out the Afghans as a whole aren't going to change their mentality. Not my opinion but from military people I know, several who've been there on multiple tours. There's a reason that some countries are one step from the cave in these modern times.

Id rather fight in Afghanistan than in Alabama.  Their mentality wont change, as soon as they are left alone long enough to get some money and train you can bet your ass theyll be back on our side of the pond to do something heinous.