Negotiating the Afghan security deal

America's top military officer said Wednesday that the impasse over a security agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan is encouraging the enemy to take bold actions and could lead some Afghan forces to cooperate with the Taliban to "hedge their bets."

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with his commanders in Afghanistan to assess conditions and reassure them that they should focus on the considerable work they have to do this year and not worry about next year.

Dempsey told The Associated Press in an interview that President Barack Obama's order Tuesday to begin actively planning for a total withdrawal was making Afghan military leaders anxious and eating away at their troops' confidence. (AP)

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