NOBEL PEACE PRIZE UPDATE: US to keep 1,000 more troops than planned in Afghanistan.

Hagel, speaking at a joint news conference with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan, said the reason for the extra troops was that U.S. allies had been slower to help out with a planned NATO mission next year than originally thought. The defense secretary insisted that troops weren’t staying longer because of a recent increase in Taliban attacks.

The president, Hagel said “has provided U.S. military commanders the flexibility to manage any temporary force shortfall that we might experience for a few months as we allow for coalition troops to arrive in theater.

Hmm.