NATO members announced that they are planning to have troops in Afghanistan for a while. At 2014, they were going to leave control to the Afghans, but they are going to have troops in Afghanistan longer than that. The US is a part of NATO. People are saying that progress is being made in Afghanistan, which is a little reassuring.

      SS7H2 The student will analyze continuity and change in Southwest Asia (Middle East) leading to the 21st century.  d. Explain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/18/nato.afghanistan/index.html