— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking of the continuing U.S. commitment to Afghanistan, Sunday in Tokyo. This chart suggests the U.S. will be paying $3 billion a year for the next five years — some $15 billion. Shorthand: the troops may be coming home, but the money will continue to flow.
“The United States will request from our Congress assistance for Afghanistan at or near the levels of the past decade through the year 2017.”