U.S. General Dempsey: A Taliban Victory In Afghanistan Would Lead To Regional Instability

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testifies during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee in Washington, D.C., June 11, 2013. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

Defeat In Afghanistan Would Lead To Regional Instability: US -- Indian Express/PTI

An American loss in Afghanistan could result in instability in the region with re-emergence of extremist groups, a top Pentagon official has told lawmakers.

"The region will become unstable. I think there will be problems on Pakistan's border. Iran will be encouraged to become even more regionally aggressive," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey told Senators.

"We could find a re-emergence of violent extremist groups," he said during a Congressional hearing yesterday.

"The difference between winning and losing is certainly what we do between now and the end of '14 but also, I think, the commitment we make beyond," Dempsey said.

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Update: US defeat in Afghanistan will lead to regional instability -- Khaama Press

My Comment: General Martin Dempsey is probably right .... but we cannot stay in Afghanistan indefinitely. Bottom line .... the Afghans (and their regional neighbors) will need to solve these problems themselves, and the international presence in Afghanistan is (in my opinion) only giving them an excuse to not confront these national security issue on their own.