Commander Says More Time Needed to Gauge Afghan War Needs

[rug]

By David Lerman - Jun 4, 2013 1:00 PM ET

The top commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan said the number of coalition troops needed after 2014 may take another six to eight months to determine.

NATO defense ministers are unlikely to agree on long-range troop requirements when they wrap up a discussion tomorrow in Brussels on the Afghanistan war, said U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford, the coalition commander in Afghanistan, who briefed reporters at NATO headquarters today.

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in February that NATO would likely need a combined force of 8,000 to 12,000 troops after 2014, when the combat mission officially ends and Afghans take the lead in providing for their own security.

Dunford declined to endorse that estimate today, saying, “I don’t need specificity of numbers at this point.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-04/commander-says-more-time-needed-to-gauge-afghan-war-needs.html

[msongs]

1. they've had 11 years, maybe some firings due to incompetence are in order nt

[rug]

3. If a general is publicly disputing his superior, yes.

[Scootaloo]

2. Does it take that long to write "E N D I T N O W"?

Does the military brass need Hooked on Phonics?