The US strategy in Afghanistan focuses on preparing Afghanistan as a nation for US withdrawal.

The troops in Afghanistan are taking on more and more missions in winning over the hearts and minds of the local population. Many missions involve building infrastructure, training and providing food and shelter to Afghani civilians. There are several goals behind this strategy. One is to turn over a lot of the fighting responsibility to the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) in preparation for a total US withdrawal by 2014.  Sociologist Lester Andrist speaks on some other concerns and goals of our troops and why this plan might work.