Without a cut-off date all Karzai has to do to stay in power is make sure there is enough turmoil for the extremists to frighten the American public. The US wouldn't have the political courage to leave and would prop up his corrupt regime with American lives and money forever.

With a cut-off date, Karzai knows that he'd better build a national army and national police force strong enough to ensure his security and he has only so much time in which to do it. Sadly, the only way a corrupt regime can do that is with a corrupt dictatorial coalition.

Whatever, the only sure prediction is that in 10 years the Taliban will still be a powerful presence. Maybe not al Qaeda, but the Taliban IS the people, the Taliban are Afghan.

And the Americans are not. Neither were the Russians. Afghans, that is. Very similar to the North Vietnamese being Vietnamese and Americans not.