US troops, dollars exiting Afghanistan could fight terror, top commander tells Congress
By: Joe Gould 5 days ago
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, participates in a press briefing Oct. 30, 2019, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON ― The top U.S. commander in the Mideast told lawmakers Tuesday some troops exiting Afghanistan will stay in the region for counter-terror operations and suggested that some could be a “lever” against Russia and China.
When asked how the thousands of troops and billions of dollars dedicated to the fight would be reallocated, Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, the head of U.S. Central Command, said some of those forces could be part of “off-shore” and “over-the-horizon” missions into Afghanistan.
CENTCOM’s detailed planning is due to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin by May, he said.
“As our forces come out and we’re ready to re-posture, we have to look at what we define as the pacing threats for the department, and I think we looked at China, we looked at Russia, and we have to look at those areas,” McKenzie told the House Armed Services Committee.
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/04/20/us-troops-dollars-exiting-afghanistan-could-fight-terror-top-commander-tells-congress/
