Do you think Karzai doesn't understand that Afghanistan's long term interests revolve around Russia, Iran, China, and India ? Not the US ? Why do you think he made such a big stink over that airstrike that killed 17 Afghan civilians ? He is distancing himself from the US now that the Taliban is winding down and working on improving his relations with the regional powers because he is in their sphere of interest. Not ours.
I don't care if Russia puts a puppet government in Afghanistan. Frankly, we never should have.
Long term economic interests yes but like some many nations around the world having a US base in their country in a good way to keep your neighbors in check.We will leave in time but not till things are alot more stable then they are.Karzai is a politician , what he says to keep his people happy and what he does to keep his nation safe are very different things.If we follow you logic the nations of east Europe should be running away from the US as fast they can yet they want us there so their neighbors don't get pushy while making those deals. So as I said ..... when those nations Afghanistan included ask us to leave....We will and not a second faster.