WASHINGTON: The White House says the decision on how many US troops to leave in Afghanistan will not be imminent. But it is leaving open the possibility the US will not leave forces there after combat troops depart in 2014.White House press secretary Jay Carney says the so-called zero option is still on the table. He says the US will have clear objectives for its mission in Afghanistan after the long-planned drawdown. He says those objectives could be met with a residual force or through other means. Carney’s comments come amid sharp debate over America’s long-term military commitment to Afghanistan and rising tensions between the US government and Afghan President Hamid Karzai
