Monday, July 22, 2013

Former Top U.S. Commander In Afghanistan: Zero Option Is Not An Option

Former General John Allen. Wikipedia

Former Top U.S. Commander In Afghanistan Cautions Against 'Zero Option' -- CNN

The former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, retired Gen. John Allen, cautioned Friday against leaving no U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014.

Speaking Friday at the Aspen Security Forum, Allen said that although the Afghan army has made great gains, Afghan leaders realize its forces are not fully trained and need a U.S. presence beyond next year.

"I've got a good bit of experience with senior Afghan leaders, and I can tell you almost to a person, they desperately want our presence after this war," he said. "They don't want us in large numbers, but they want us there in enough numbers to help to continue to develop the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces)."

Read more ....

My Comment: The best part of this report is the last paragraph quoting former Ambassador to Pakistan Husain Haqqani ....

.... "There is a perception around the world that Americans don't lose wars, they lose interest," Haqqani said. "Telling them the date of when you are leaving tells them how long they have to wait."

Indeed.

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