Panetta to Karzai: US Will Stand By Afghanistan

From a great distance, maybe?

The United States sought to assure Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday that it would remain committed to his country even as US officials weigh a major withdrawal of American forces.

After an elaborate military ceremony for Karzai outside the Pentagon, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told his 'distinguished visitor' that more than 10 years of war had paved the way for Afghanistan to stand on its own.