By CNN's Wolf Blitzer

(CNN) – For a long time, U.S. intelligence officials have testified before congressional committees that there are probably fewer than 100 al Qaeda terrorists remaining in Afghanistan. They have suggested that there are many more al Qaeda members in other countries, including Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

If true, and I believe it is, that raises this question: Why does the United States still have 90,000 troops in Afghanistan and virtually none in those other countries?
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CNN's Wolf Blitzer discusses the cost of the U.S presence in Afghanistan with Vice President Biden's National Security Adviser Tony Blinken.

RELATED POST: What did Obama's Afghanistan speech really mean?

By Wolf Blitzer, CNN

Washington (CNN) – It was good that President Obama went to Afghanistan to thank the U.S. men and women serving in the military under very dangerous circumstances. I could see on their faces at Bagram Air Base that they were thrilled to meet with the commander in chief.

Unfortunately, some of the nearly 90,000 American troops still in Afghanistan will be killed or severely wounded. Others will come back to the United States suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other long-term ailments. The costs of this war will continue long after all U.S. combat troops are out of Afghanistan at the end of 2014.
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Jose Rodriguez, who oversaw the CIA's enhanced interrogation program, says it led the U.S. to bin Laden.

RELATED STORY: Bin Laden documents to go online Thursday

President Obama has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan Tuesday on the first anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death. President Obama is meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a strategic pact on future cooperation. He will make a televised address Tuesday evening at 7:30pm ET.

Joining CNN's Wolf Blitzer to discuss this developing story is Former Director of the National Clandestine Service Jose Rodriguez, Rep. Peter King, Ret. U.S. Army Major General James "Spider" Marks, CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Contributor Fran Townsend and more.

Tune to "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" today from 4-6pm ET on CNN.

RELATED STORY: Obama lands in Afghanistan in surprise visit

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was asked by Secretary Clinton to stay out of Afghanistan to avoid a "mini-crisis" with President Karzai. Wolf Blitzer interviews the congressman on the incident and the fallout.

REALTED: BLITZER'S BLOG: Outrage – U.S. congressman not allowed into Afghanistan

A U.S. soldier was executed inside Afghan's security headquarters, and an American family is demanding answers. CNN's Deborah Feyerick takes a closer look.

CNN's Ted Rowlands shares new information about Staff Sgt. Robert Bales – the alleged shooter in the massacre of 16 Afghan civilians.

By Wolf Blitzer, CNN

(CNN) - The situation in Afghanistan seems to be going from bad to worse despite 10 years on the ground for hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops, diplomats, private contractors and aid workers who have rotated through the country. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent.

The commander of all U.S. and NATO forces, Gen. John Allen, was upbeat in an interview with me Monday. “The campaign is sound,” he said. “It is solid. It does not contemplate, at this time, any form of an accelerated draw-down.”
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By Wolf Blitzer, CNN

It’s hard to believe, but American taxpayers are still shelling out $2 billion a week in Afghanistan. That adds up to more than $100 billion a year.

Maintaining a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan of nearly 100,000 U.S. troops is certainly not cheap.

U.S. taxpayers are spending billions trying to build up the Afghan military and police force.
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