Dawn : Retired army general says conflicts could keep U.S. in Middle East for 50 years

Retired army general says conflicts could keep U.S. in Middle East for 50 years

AP | November 1, 2007

PITTSBURGH -- It might take as long as half a century before U.S. troops can leave the volatile Middle East, according to retired Army General John Abizaid.

“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,” Abizaid said Wednesday at Carnegie Mellon University.