Nominee To Head U.S. Central Command Wants To Review The Afghan Draw-down Plan

U.S. Army General Joseph Votel testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Votel’s nomination to be commander of the U.S. Central Command on Capitol Hill in Washington March 9, 2016. REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE

Washington Post: Central Command nominee may push for additional revisions to Afghanistan exit

President Obama’s nominee to head U.S. Central Command said on Wednesday he would recommend extending the U.S. mission in Afghanistan if local forces don’t improve their record against the Taliban and other militants.

Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, who currently heads U.S. Special Operations Command, said during his confirmation hearing that the U.S. military may not be able to provide needed support to Afghan forces under a White House plan to halve the U.S. military footprint of 9,800 troops by the time Obama steps down next January.

“If [Afghan forces] demonstrate uneven performance similar to the 2015 fighting season, and continue to struggle with their sustainment systems, it will be difficult to address those challenges” under the current plan to downsize the U.S. mission, Votel said in remarks submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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Update #1: US commander wants administration review of Afghan drawdown plan. (The Hill)
Update #2: US Special Ops Commander Says Afghanistan Withdrawal Should Be Based On Conditions, Not Timelines (Daily Caller)

WNU Editor: It looks like U.S. forces in Afghanistan are not going to leave at any-time in the near future .... as predicted.