US Interests in Afghanistan

Open Email to House Middle East Chairman Ros-Lehtinen and Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez:
Dear Chairmen Ros-Lehtinen and Menendez,
   
     The NATO combat mission in Afghanistan will end in 2014, with the theoretical withdrawal of all US troops.
     However, the US is trying to negotiate another deal with Afghan Pres. Karzai wherein the US will continue involvement in the following ways:
  1. The US would have nine bases in Afghanistan
  2. The US would have legal jurisdiction over troops and Defense Department civilians, while contractors would be subject to the Afghan judicial process
  3. US counterterrorism operations would continue in coordination with the Afghans, with the goal that the Afghan forces should be in the lead.
  4. US troops will not conduct combat operations unless they are mutually agreed on by the US and Afghans
  5. The agreement could allow 10,000 to 15,000 US troops to remain in Afghanistan for 10 years or longer, although the US says it will likely supply no more than 8000 troops.
     Afghan Pres. Karzai appears reluctant to sign, although he doesn't specify why. Does he want more money?

     Does this sound like what we have been led to believe? Namely, that the US will be leaving Afghanistan?
     I suppose the Administration will next come up with the idea that we need a presence in Afghanistan for an ability to attack Iran, which it borders on the east. The Administration may also say we need to be able to get to terrorist forces in Afghanistan.
     Both claims would be without merit.
     Turkey borders Iran on the northwest, and we have NATO bases in Turkey from which to operate bombers against Iran.
     If there are problems with Turkey, Israel is only 1000 miles from Tehran, and it is highly likely that the Israelis would be agreeable to our using bases in that country. We also have airbases in Western European countries and in Great Britain. Tthe distance from Italy to Tehran is 2100 miles. Germany to Tehran is 2300 miles. England to Tehran 3300 miles.
     We have 85 B-52 bombers each carrying a bomb load of 70,000 pounds and having a bombing range of 4800 miles. We have 20 B2 bombers each carrying a bomb load of 40,000 pounds and having a bombing range of 6000 miles. Notice that we have a number of base opportunities well within the Tehran bombing range for both these bomber types.
     If we need to get to training camps, administrative complexes or other terrorist consolidations in Afghanistan, the distance from England to Afghanistan is 3500 miles, well within the bombing range of both the B-52 and B-2 bombers. In addition, we have drones for surveillance and limited attack.
     The bottom line is that we don't need any agreement with Afghanistan to have any troops remaining in that country. We should be OUT, OUT, OUT