"This is withdrawal. This is draw-down based on success not on failure," he said.

"We're confident it can be done while making sure Afghanistan does not return to become a haven of terrorism, which is of course why we came here in the first place."

He added: "We have paid a very heavy price but I think the reason for coming here in the first place, which was to stop Afghanistan being a haven for terror... I think it was the right decision."

It may be mentioned that the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) project was initially conceived in 2002. The gas is expected to flow to India from Turkmenistan in the year 2014.

Romney Agrees with Obama on 2014 Timetable for Afghanistan

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Monday night agreed with President Obama's plan to withdraw most U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2014, a deadline that is well known to America's enemies.

"Well, we’re going to be finished by 2014," Romney said at the third and final presidential debate Monday night. "And when I’m president, we’ll make sure we bring our troops out by the end of 2014.

Extensive research by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Afghan Geological Survey, and the Department of Defense has yielded volumes of information about areas of high mineral potential in Afghanistan, including rare earth elements, gold, iron, and copper. This research will be used by the Afghan Government as they consider developing these minerals resources.

Many of these Afghan mineral priority areas, including the rare-earth rich Khanneshin, are world-class resources that could lead to significant commercial development.

Oh and the shitload of minerals 'found' by the US military's geological survey unit which I'm sure accompanies every combat mission in case they run short of shiny things in the middle of a battle.

And not forgetting the heroin, of course.