The new commander in Afghanistan: U.S. to remain in Afghanistan a “long time”

A NATO conference in Lisbon set 2014 as the date the U.S. will hand over responsibility for security to the Afghan government.

In an interview for “60 minutes,” CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley sat down in Kabul with the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Marine Gen. John Allen, and asked about the plan.

“Well, the plan is to win. The plan is to be successful. And so, while some folks might hear that we’re departing in 2014 as a result of the Lisbon Conference and the process of transition, we’re actually going to be here for a long time,” Allen said.

In a CBS News poll out tonight, we asked Americans if the war has been mostly a success: 39 percent said yes, but 50 percent said no. Asked whether U.S. forces should be decreased, 62 percent said yes.

There are 90,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and President Obama plans to withdraw about one-third by next summer.
Read More: CBS News