Top U.S. General In Afghanistan: Taliban Not Interested In Peace. Need To Keep U.S. And NATO Troops Longer

Reuters: Taliban leadership issues likely to delay Afghan peace talks: U.S. commander

Disarray within the Taliban leadership could delay peace talks with the Afghan government for a few months, but up to 70 percent of the militant group may ultimately be reconciled with Kabul, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan predicted on Thursday.

"I think it's going to take a good couple of months before we see them kind of back to any kind of peace negotiation," U.S. Army General John Campbell told a hearing of the Armed Services Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I think reconciliation talks will continue, but it's going to take some time to bring the right people to the table to do that," he said.

WNU Editor: U.S. Army General John Campbell is essentially admitting that a U.S. departure will probably result in the Afghan Army collapsing .... Top US General in Afghanistan: Afghan Security Forces 'Could Potentially Collapse' (The Diplomat). What's my take .... he is probably correct in his assessment.

More News On U.S. General John Campbell's Remarks On Afghanistan

U.S. asks NATO allies for flexibility in Afghan drawdown plans -- Reuters
U.S. General Urges Slower Drawdown of Troops in Afghanistan -- WSJ
Top US general makes case for keeping troops in Afghanistan -- The Hill
US rethinks withdrawal, saying Afghanistan 'cannot handle the fight alone' -- Al Jazeera
Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan suggests fight will take longer -- Military Times
Top U.S. commander: Military needs 'different' plan in Afghanistan -- UPI
Should the U.S. keep a significant military presence in Afghanistan? -- PBS Newshour
America and Afghanistan: The unending war -- The Economist