US will request from our Congress assistance for Afghanistan at or near the levels of the past decade through the year 2017. ME.com

Burden Shifting from Troops to Taxpayers | Battleland | TIME.com: -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking of the continuing U.S. commitment to Afghanistan, Sunday in Tokyo. This chart suggests the U.S. will be paying $3 billion a year for the next five years -- some $15 billion. Shorthand: the troops may be coming home, but the money will continue to flow.