Things Changed

President Obama halted the withdrawal of American military forces from Afghanistan on Thursday, announcing that the United States will keep thousands of troops in the country through the end of his term in 2017 and indefinitely prolonging the American role in a war that has already lasted 14 years.

  NYT

He knows it's a sinkhole for money and troops, but, knowing the criticism of the US' earlier foray into Afghanistan in the 80s, he doesn't want to be blamed for being the one who let it once again drop into a deeper level of hell by pulling out. He'll let the next president do that.

In a brief statement from the Roosevelt Room in the White House, Mr. Obama said he continued to oppose the idea of “endless war.”

[...]

His announcement will allow the military to continue carrying out secret operations focused primarily in eastern Afghanistan against people it suspects of being militant leaders.

Like bombing hospitals.

P.S.

The Taliban are now spread through more parts of the country than at any point since 2001, according to the United Nations.

Nicely played.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.