Reid says U.S. sticking to Afghan schedule

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WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he did not see a need to alter the U.S. timetable for leaving Afghanistan despite a recent spike in violence.

Reid appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday as reports came in from Afghanistan that a U.S. soldier had opened fire on civilians near his base.

Reid told CNN that the groundwork for the withdrawal was being laid in Afghanistan and the timetable was "pretty good."

"I think that we're on the right track to get out of Afghanistan just as soon as we can," Reid said.

Reid conceded that there had been some unexpected twists in the plan, including rioting caused by the improper disposal of Korans at a U.S. base and diplomatic overtures by the Taliban. "I think our timetable is pretty good," he said. "We're moving out, as the president said, and I think that's the right thing to do."