“The American defense secretary announced that the United States will be in a magnitude of 8,000 to 12,000 troops involved in Afghanistan” post-2014″http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/02/22/world/asia/22reuters-afghanistan-usa-nato.html?hp Even though Panetta later refuted that claim, it’s hard to believe that the US would have less in the region moving forward since NATO defense ministers are seriously considering a new proposal to sustain Afghanistan’s security forces at 352,000 troops through 2018. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/22/us/philip-m-breedlove-is-likely-candidate-for-top-nato-post.html?ref=world&_r=0