US troops will be in the Middle East for next 50 years, says Abazaid

Associated Press - November 1, 2007

US troops could be in the Middle East for another 50 years, according to the longest serving commander of the Qatar-based US Central Command.

General John Abazaid, who retired in May, said the "strategic situation" in the region - the rise of extremism and the global dependence on oil - would necessitate a long-term presence.

"Over time, we will have to shift the burden of the military fight from our forces directly to regional forces, and we will have to play an indirect role.

"But we shouldn't assume for even a minute that in the next 25 to 50 years the American military might be able to come home, relax and take it easy."

Gen Abazaid, who delivered the comments yesterday at Carnegie Mellon University, said the US would also need to reduced its dependence on imported energy.

"I'm not saying this is a war for oil, but I am saying that oil fuels an awful lot of geopolitical moves that political powers may have there.

"And it is absolutely essential that we in the United States of America figure out how, in the long run, to lessen our dependency on foreign energy."

He reiterated comments made in September that the US needs to do a better job of coordinating economic, political and diplomatic means so the conflict can move from a military to a political issue.

"I would characterise what we're doing now as 80% military, 20% diplomatic, economic, political, educational, informational, intelligence, etc.

"You've got to take that equation and change it. Make it 80% those other things."