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For america's military families who are in their 12th straight year now of multiple deployments, years of deployments in support of two wars, two of the longest wars in this country's history that 99% of this country has not fought in? for afghanistan, for america's military, for america's military families, this is a long time coming. this is a long time coming. this is a very long time coming. joining us now is steve clemons from "the washington note" and the new america foundation. steve writes at "the atlantic magazine" where he is washington editor at large. thank you so much for being he...

And today that's what the president said is going to happen this spring in afghanistan, that same transition. in a surprise announcement, the president today announced a newly sped-up timetable for how the war is going to wind down in afghanistan. >> today we agreed that as afghan forces take the lead, and as president karzai announces the final phase of the transition, coalition forces will move to a support role this spring. our troops will continue to fight alongside afghans when needed, but let me say it as plainly as i can. starting this spring, our troops will have a different mission --...

Spring in afghanistan. that's same transition. the president announced a newly sped up timetable for how the war will wind down in afghanistan. >> today we agree that as afghan forces take the lead and as president karzai announcing the final phase of the transition, coalition forces will move to a support role this spring. starting this spring our troops will have a different mission. training, advicing and assisting afghans. it will be a historic moment. >> they will move to a support role this spring. that does not mean everybody will come home immediately.

Military personnel have been killed. the president said all forces in afghanistan will move into a support role starting this spring rather than summer as initially planned he said. the two leaders did not spell out the size of the u.s. force that will stay behind in afghanistan after u.s. troops start leaving next year. >> i can't give you a precise number at this point. i will probably make a separate announcement once i have gotten recommendations from troops, from the generals and our commanders in terms of what that drawdown might look like. >> that is not for us to decide. it is an issue...

Coalition partners and continue to do so. today we agreed that as afghan forces take the lead and as president karzai announces the final phase of the transition, coalitions forces will move to a support role this spring. our troops will continue to fight alongside afghan forces as needed, but starting this spring our troops will have a different mission, training, advising, assisting, afghan forces. it will be a historic moment and another step toward full afghan sovereignty, something i know that president karzai cares deeply about, as do the afghan people. this sets the stage for the furthe...