McChrystal Testifies Before Congress, Supports President’s Afghanistan Strategy

General Stanley McChrystal, the top commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told the House Armed Services Committee Tuesday that he supports the Afghan military strategy outlined by President Barack Obama last week.

The strategy, which includes sending 30,000 additional U.S. troops and a withdrawal date set for July 2011, was described by McChrystal as “achievable” and “a realistic and effective approach.”

“We will have a significantly increased force on the ground that is going to allow us to turn the momentum ... over about the next eighteen months,” said McChrystal.

The 30,000 troop number falls short of the 40,000 McChrystal initially recommended.

McChrystal denied having any role in establishing the withdrawal timetable and candidly acknowledged the risks that could come with it.

“I do want to say up front, there are people who will grab onto that, I think inappropriately, and they will try to use it in information operations and describe it as something that it is not in terms of lack of commitment on the part of U.S. and the coalition,” said McChrystal. “But I think we can deal with that.”

Added the four-star general, “I don’t view July 2011 as a deadline, I view that as a point that at which time the president has directed we will begin to reduce combat forces, but we will decide the pace and scope of that based upon conditions of that time.”

McChrystal’s testimony comes after months of anticipation from both Republicans and Democrats. In September, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) expressed his desire to hear from McChrystal and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) has made numerous requests for a Capitol Hill appearance from the General over the past several months.