we re starting this process just like we did in iraq. we re start rg it in july of 2011 and we ll be totally out of there come hell or high water by 2014. i will point you to what was decided in liz bsbon just a few weeks ago that we will, much like we have in iraq, transfer primary security of afghanistan to the afghans as nato and isaf agreed by the end of 2014 which would end our combat commitment in that country. i think what the vice president was discussing was our combat role. all right. that was robert gibbs on monday. the vice president on meet the press talking about the troop drawdown or potential for it in
pakistan. the u.s. campaign of joint attacks there are responsible for taking out terror suspects. also the new york times reporting commanders in afghanistan will push for an even greater special ops presence. but nato now denying that the u.s. plans more raids in pakistan, so let s talk to the pentagon about this. jeff morrell is pentagon press secretary, and he s our guest now. jeff, is the pentagon pushing for greater presence whether it s overt or covert in pakistan? i think this is one of those where the new york times probably wishes it had had more than one source, and this one being an unnamed american official being the one who they hung this story on. and you saw isaf taking the unusual move overnight of putting out a press release saying the story is erroneous and that there are no plans to conduct any such operations. we do, jenna, have some u.s. forces in pakistan, have had them for some time, but they number fewer than 100. they are special operators who are conduc
weeks ago, that we will, much like we have in iraq, transfer primary security of afghanistan to the afghans as nato and isaf agreed, by the end of 2014 which would end our combat commitment in that country. i think what the vice president was discussing was our combat role. all right. welcome back to morning joe. live in washington. there s a look at the white house. mike barnicle are and andrea mish el and joining us dr. brzezinski, my dad. i m not good with the whole english language thing. but the other day the involvement said we ll be completely out of of gan stan come hell or high waut sgler yesterday the white house had to walk those words back and say,
taliban and the afghan government. in fact, petraeus comments confirmed what sources had been telling us, that nato-led forces have been guaranteeing safe passage for taliban commanders to attend the meetings. indeed in certain respects we do facilitate that given that, needless to say, it would not be the easiest of tasks for a senior taliban commander to enter afghanistan and make his way to kabul if isaf were not witting and aware of it and therefore allows it to take place. another top story right now, social security is something that affects all of us either now or later. but the government just made a big announcement that has many people worrying about their future. that s next.
top taliban leaders so they can meet face to face with members of the afghanistan government for so-called peace talks. why are they doing that? greg talcott is live in london with this story. greg? reporter: jenna, there has been some reporting, but this is the first time we ve got an on-the-record confirmation of it, especially someone as high up as general petraeus. here s a little bit of what he had to say about this earlier today in london. we do facilitate that given that, needless to say, it would not be the easiest of tasks for a senior taliban commander to enter afghanistan and make his way to kabul if isaf were not witting and aware of it and, therefore, allows it to take place. reporter: now, he does say that the contacts have been, in his words, preliminary, nowhere near negotiation, but still this is a significant development.