Gen. Dunford Offers Contradictory Comments on Afghan Peace Deal

With signs that a peace deal in Afghanistan is imminent, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Joe Dunford offered contradictory statements to reporters on what his position is, at the same time warning it’s “too early“to talk about a pullout but that the plan is worth trying.

“I’m not using the withdraw word right now,” Dunford said, insisting the Afghan government is not ready to defend itself without a continued US military presence. That’s not to say he’s rejecting the deal out of hand.

Indeed, Dunford said that the war desperately needs a “disruption to the status quo” after so many years, and that in his opinion the peace plan is very much “worth trying.”

These positions aren’t totally irreconcilable at this point, however. With the deal not formally announced, Dunford may not want to be on record either way, and believes it is “too soon” to talk withdrawal until the withdrawal deal is reached.