From Lolita C. Baldor, AP:  Senior NATO officials say the alliance is strongly considering a proposal to continue funding an Afghan security force of 352,000 troops through 2018 , as part of an effort to maintain security and help convince Afghanistan that America and its allies will not abandon it once combat troops leave in 2014.

Last May, NATO agreed to underwrite an Afghan force of about 230,000, at a cost of about $4.1 billion a year. It’s not clear how much the larger force will cost.  (photo: Szilard Koszticsak/EPA)

Image: epa%202%2021%2013%20Afghan%20army.jpg