US Troops Could Remain In Afghanistan For Decades [View all]

[Purveyor]

Source: The Nation PK

Thousands of US troops could remain in Afghanistan for decades to come, despite Washington's plan to pull the majority of soldiers out by early 2017, US military commanders reportedly suggest.

The revelation comes amid concerns about the Afghan government's vulnerability.

“What we’ve learned is that you can’t really leave,” a senior Pentagon official told the Washington Post on condition of anonymity. “The local forces need air support, intelligence and help with logistics. They are not going to be ready in three years or five years. You have to be there for a very long time.”

Senior US commanders expressed surprise at Al-Qaeda's resilience in Afghanistan, as well as the Taliban's continued seizure of large areas of contested territory.



Read more: http://nation.com.pk/international/28-Jan-2016/us-troops-could-remain-in-afghanistan-for-decades-report

---

U.S. Sees Lasting Role For Troops In Afghanistan

Greg Jaffe and Missy Ryan, Washington Post
Posted: Wednesday, January 27, 2016

WASHINGTON - Top U.S. military commanders, who only a few months ago were planning to pull the last American troops out of Afghanistan by year's end, are now quietly talking about an American commitment that could keep thousands of troops in the country for decades.

The shift in mindset, made possible by President Obama's decision last fall to cancel withdrawal plans, reflects the Afghan government's vulnerability to continued militant assault and concern that terror groups like al-Qaeda continue to build training camps whose effect could be felt far beyond the region, said senior military officials.

The military outlook mirrors arguments made by many Republican and Democratic foreign policy advisers, looking beyond the Obama presidency, for a significant long-term American presence.

"This is not a region you want to abandon," said Michele Flournoy, a former Pentagon official who would likely be considered a top candidate for secretary of defense in a Hillary Clinton administration. "So the question is what do we need going forward given our interests?"

American commanders have been surprised by al-Qaeda's resilience and ability to find a haven in the Afghan countryside as well as the Taliban's repeated seizure of large tracts of contested territory.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly
/news/20160127_U_S__sees_lasting_role_for_troops_in_Afghanistan.html#ctHEp5ljuv7BWJ5e.99