U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford (L) testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 15, 2012. Dunford was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 10, 2012 to be the next Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan. Dunford was expected to replace General John Allen, whose nomination to the NATO commander has been put on hold due to pending investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)
Related:
U.S. nominee to Afghanistan to evaluate pace of drawdown
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Joseph Dunford, the nominee to head NATO forces in Afghanistan, said Thursday at his confirmation hearing at the U.S. Senate that if confirmed to lead the effort in Afghanistan, he would evaluate plans to withdraw U.S. troops there, and determine the pace of drawdown then.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Dunford, who would succeed Gen. John Allen, said if confirmed, he will evaluate current plans for drawing down the remaining 68,000 troops in Afghanistan. Weighing that against conditions on the ground and the Afghan national security forces' capabilities, he hopes to gauge exactly what type and size force the United States will need to meet its objectives, he said. Full story
U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford (C) testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 15, 2012. Dunford was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 10, 2012 to be the next Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan. Dunford was expected to replace General John Allen, whose nomination to the NATO commander has been put on hold due to pending investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)
U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 15, 2012. Dunford was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 10, 2012 to be the next Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan. Dunford was expected to replace General John Allen, whose nomination to the NATO commander has been put on hold due to pending investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)
U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford (C) testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 15, 2012. Dunford was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 10, 2012 to be the next Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan. Dunford was expected to replace General John Allen, whose nomination to the NATO commander has been put on hold due to pending investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)
U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford (R) greets Chairman Carl Levin (L, Democrat) and ranking member John McCain (Republican) during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 15, 2012. Dunford was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 10, 2012 to be the next Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan. Dunford was expected to replace General John Allen, whose nomination to the NATO commander has been put on hold due to pending investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)
U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford (L) testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 15, 2012. Dunford was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 10, 2012 to be the next Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan. Dunford was expected to replace General John Allen, whose nomination to the NATO commander has been put on hold due to pending investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)
U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Nov. 15, 2012. Dunford was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 10, 2012 to be the next Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan. Dunford was expected to replace General John Allen, whose nomination to the NATO commander has been put on hold due to pending investigation for alleged "inappropriate" communications with a woman involved in the scandal that forced out CIA Director David Petraeus. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun)
