Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal told CBS Friday that the United States should leave some troops in Afghanistan to demonstrate its commitment and friendship to the Afghan people.
"I think what Afghanistan needs is a demonstration of commitment and partnership and friendship," the former U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan said.
"That doesn’t mean many thousands of troops," McChrystal said, responding to Vice President Biden’s recent suggestion of a full withdrawal. "I think it means some presence that reassures them, unlike 1989 when essentially we walked away, we would not do that and we would be there to help them develop."
McChrystal also noted that Iraq’s current plight should serve as a warning against rapid troop withdrawal by the United States.
"I think it should be a warning. No two situations are exactly the same, but I think we should take it as a clear lesson from Iraq, which it is disturbing."