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Fmr. NATO Commander in Afghanistan Ret. Gen. Dan K. McNeill on Obama’s withdrawal plans for Afghanistan and why other NATO members should take on a ...
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My next guest is a former.
US air -- NATO commander in Afghanistan a retired four star general Dan McNeill joining us right now.
On the -- general very good to have you.
Do you agree it would this strategy and the number troops on the timing of their withdrawal.
Well I'd like to point out that I'm certain that the president of the council what they've bribery -- Petraeus.
Get -- that -- apparatus and Mike Mullen and those are some pretty good individuals.
And I suspect that.
-- -- -- counsel as to what they were offering and he came to what people -- To be right.
I'm not gonna criticize the president and the due process the exclusion of his office side I'm gonna presume that he took counsel and here's what McCain did.
Now it's some of that council general -- to -- against.
Not being a 101000 we -- reports that they didn't even want.
Anyone withdrawn at this sensitive time.
Or to make -- half that amount.
And to make through the the plan drawn down next year half that amount that we don't know who was recommending what we do know that there.
What some disagreement among.
-- that is key military advisors and and that's not uncommon as you say -- but.
He obviously decided to do this regardless.
And and -- still found that ultimately you're looking a little more than a year from now.
A close to 70000.
American troops in Afghanistan from what you know.
Of that area and this region better than most.
Is that an adequate number.
-- when I was there on my first or wish to lose altitude of 2003.
Are higher or -- -- just below 111000 we had brought respect year.
When I was there at the NATO commander I think.
We started out what about 37000 when I got beard grew to 52 before it was done in 2008 we had -- -- most times.
But there is no question that with the search.
We got a four faster rate of progress with less soldiers we are still gonna have progress.
It just might not come as -- is fast rate is it has over the last year.
But I'd also point out that -- -- NATO mission and and and the debate we're having United States we sometimes miss that.
They're probably five to seven members of NATO he could contribute more who could do more in Afghanistan and -- do it we we don't we should not -- all this burden ourselves.
Know you read about that tomorrow was startled when I looked at the breakdown of the numbers and -- -- these.
Better than I ever will serve but 9500 British troops 4800 from Germany 4000 from France.
A little less than that from Italy and on and -- so while it is.
A multi nation contingent in a NATO operation there.
Where really the bulk of it so within any of those countries I just named by your liking step up to the -- or today as we areas it seems.
We are.
They've all had political situations in their country which were not -- are very supportive of that record there but they've yet they've contributed my point is.
Although they're forces are small they have the ability to do other things there are NATO countries 5% to be sure they could provide more flying machines -- helicopters.
Likely could provide more intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance systems to help but the other motion and it would be useful to medical battlefield.
And then lastly there are certain.
Certainly more NATO members who could contribute more maneuver forces.
General thank you very much we'll see a little and so.
