Turning Point No. 2039 in Afghanistan

NATO optimistic about U.S. security agreement with Afghanistan - The Washington Post: 
"Western officials see the coming months as a turning point in the Afghanistan war, with a presidential election in April and lingering doubts about the international role in the aid-
dependent country. The Taliban is widely expected to make its presence felt as the number of American troops drops from 51,000 to 34,000 in February, the U.S. military official said.
“They’re going to try to disrupt the elections — we expect that — and, more importantly, disrupt the broader political process,” the official told reporters in Brussels, where Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was meeting with counterparts from allied nations. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity citing NATO protocol.
The Afghan security deal, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, appeared to be on life support just a few weeks ago, when Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke dismissively about NATO’s legacy in his country."