at 3:00 today, general joseph dunford, he is the commander of all international forces in afghanistan, will be here at the white house to meet with the president, top officials from the pentagon, the secretary of state, the president, vice president, on down will be there at that meeting to talk about the end game. what is at stake here? that fours, some 10,000 americans 3,000 international troops to stay in afghanistan after the u.s. combat role is done there. here is the problem, he says he wants to wait until the next president is installed. the united states government has threatened him, saying if we don't get this soon, we won't be able to leave a force there, that's what is on the table today. i had an opportunity, on the capitol hill earlier food, to speak with both john mccain, two republican senators and lindsay graham as they came out of a closed intelligence briefing. had some very harsh words but for the administration as well. >> he is paranoid, and irrational. but like most people with paranoia, there is a basis for that. and when he reads that the united states is plan

there are currently 34,000 american troops in afghanistan, and the top commander, general joseph dunford, has recommended keeping 10,000 there for two years after 2014 if the government of afghanistan first signs a security agreement. president obama left open the possibility of signing that agreement with karzai's successor after afghanistan holds elections this spring. but he warned-- the longer it takes, the smaller the number of u.s. troops that stay behind is likely to be. the president's phone call may not change karzai's mind. he has refused to sign any agreement which allows u.s. troops to continue their raids on afghan homes, but it will surely affect thinking elsewhere in afghanistan, where the army still depends on american support to carry out operations against the taliban. a senior pakistani official predicted if all u.s. troops were to pull out, 30% of the afghan army would dessert. and it will affect thinking among nato allies, which also have troops in afghanistan. perhaps the most telling sign president obama has given up on karzai is that today's phone call was the fir

about an hour ago, the top at the pentagon, and state, meeting with general joseph dunford, he is the commander of forces in afghanistan to talk about? issue and the posture of what u.s. forces may be. you mention that report in the new york times outlining a talk that karzai secret talks that he is having with the taliban. talks that the united states knew nothing about. two republican senators two hawkish senators two outspoken critics of the obama administration, they accuse the administration of floating a plan to remove all-american troops. that they say is driving karzai into the hands of the taliban. >> he is paranoid, and irrational. but like most people with paranoia, there is a basis for that. and when he reads that the united states is planning on having everybody out by 2017, then he makes accommodations such as trying to negotiate with the taliban. that is completely understandable. >> now i had a chance to ask him to respond to john mccain today. i don't doubt that some senators envying a world in which u.s. troops remain in afghanistan for decades. i know there's not a

. >> joseph dunford, sitting down with the president for top officials. on the table, the troops in afghanistan and the refusal of its leader, karzai, to come to terms. the latest revelation reported secret talks between karzai and the taliban, trying to cut his own deal. karzai has refused to sign an agreement allowing a residual force of 10,000 u.s. troops to train and assist afghans for 2014. and combat comes to an end. republican senators pressed for an agreement. >> you see what happens when security falls apart. iraq is exhibit after, and afghanistan would be worse. >> they were also critical of president obama, accusing him of abandoning afghanistan altogether in three years. >> president karzai is paranoid and irrational. and like most people with paranoia, there's a basis for that. and when he reads that the united states is planning on having everybody out by 2017, then he makes accommodations, such as trying to negotiate with the taliban. that's completely understandable. >> reporter: the white house hit back, but would not say how long mr. oba

today the commander of all international forces in afghanistan, the american general joseph dunford wase at the west wing meeting with top brass, defense secretary, secretary of defense, president, vice president, all the way down to try to find a way out of this to look in to the future and see what the options are. meanwhile, at the briefing i had a chance to ask jay carney about the accusations that john mccain made. here is what he had to say. >> i don't doubt that some senators envision a world in which u.s. troops remain in afghanistan for decades. some senators envisioned a world in which u.s. troops remained in iraq for decades. that's not the president's decision. >> reporter: after giving that deadline at the end of last year for karzai to sign the agreement. they are not giving a deadline anymore, they say that he has to sign it within weeks, not the months that karzai has asked for. >> mike viqueira is at the white house for us. >>> journalists around the world are showing support for our al gentleman rear a colleagues detained in egypt. dozens marches to the embassy. taping

. >> arriving at the white house, commander general joseph dunford, here with a sit down with the president and top officials. on the table, the troops in afghanistan and the refusal of its leader to come to terms. the latest revelation reported secret talks between karzai and the taliban trying to cut his own deal by cutting out american forces. he has refused to sign an agreement allowing a residual force to train and assess afghans post 2014. the nato combat role will come to an end. republican accept tories pressed for an agreement. >> you see what happens when security falls apart. iraq is exhibit a, but afghanistan would be worse. >> they were critical of president obama, accusing him of floating a plan to abandon afghanistan all in three years. >> president karzai is paranoid and irrational, but like most people with mar know i can't, there is as basis for that. when he reads that the united states is planning on having everybody out by 2017, then he makes accommodations, such as trying to negotiate with the taliban. that is completely understandable. >> the white house hit back, but