AP Photo

President Obama and Gen. David Axelrod may have thought they had the Afghan war exit strategy tied up in a neat package with U.S. troop withdrawals beginning in time for this fall's American presidential campaign.

But a combination of unforeseen recent events have seriously complicated the Democrats' plans and could leave the U.S. exit looking more like an organized retreat, not the images any incumbent commander-in-chief wants in voters' minds come the start of early voting in early October.