Obama: Afghans are partner for the long term - USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military, diplomatic and economic commitment to Afghanistan will remain for years, President Obama promised his Afghan counterpart Wednesday as part of a week-long mission to ease tensions between the two nations.

"Our solidarity today sends an unmistakable message to those who would stand in the way of Afghanistan's progress," Obama said during a joint appearance with Karzai at the White House. "They will try to drive us apart, but we will partner with the Afghan people for the long term."

Karzai's White House visit was the highlight of a four-day working trip to Washington attended by many members of both administrations. His upbeat meetings with Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others recalled his early days as Afghanistan's leader in 2004, when he addressed a joint session of Congress.

"The whole mission here is fence-mending. Both sides have a script, and they're following their script," said Stephen Biddle of the Council on Foreign Relations.

"We cannot measure success in Afghanistan in days and weeks," said Rick Nelson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It's going to have to be measured in years."

"Obama: Afghans are partner for the long term"
White House gives optimistic outlook for Afghanistan (USATODAY)

Afghanistan: Don't Sell Out Women's Rights in DC Talks Human ...

A secret weapon in Afghanistan: agriculture - USATODAY