Poll: Should the U.S. Fund Afghanistan Through 2017?

In an international effort to stabilize Afghanistan, President Barack Obama’s administration plans to ask Congress for additional funding toward a four-year civilian assistance plan.

According to The Associated Press, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Tokyo this past weekend where she made a pledge for continual financial support to Afghanistan until 2017.

This funding effort would be part of a financial plan along with 70 other countries, with the ultimate goal toward rebuilding the country's economy and other reforms, the AP reported.

Since 2001, the annual American assistance to Afghanistan civilian efforts has leveled out at between $1 billion and $2.3 billion each year.

The U.S. has maintained a presence in the Middle Eastern nation since toppling the Taliban in 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. There still are troops in the country and, according to The Daily Beast, the Obama Administration plans on leaving some 68,000 troops there by the end of the year.

A watchdog website, CostOfWar.com, calculates that the cost of the Afghanistan War has reached over $545 billion since 2001.

Do you agree that the U.S. should continue this course of funding rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan? Do you think this will be good for our overall national security or that this is already enough spending on these wars? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.