WASHINGTON – In a blunt assessment Tuesday, the top U.S. general for the Middle East told Congress it will be extremely difficult but not impossible for the U.S.
to find, track and take out counterterrorism threats in Afghanistan once all American troops are withdrawn. Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S.
Central Command, said that armed drones, which can now get to a location within minutes from bases in Afghanistan, will have to be positioned much farther away.
And he acknowledged that the U.S. has no agreements yet with neighboring countries to base troops, but is working on a plan. “I don’t want to make light of it, I don’t want to put on rose-colored glasses and say it’s going to be easy to do,” McKenzie told the House Armed Services