Marine Corps Commandant Predicts Prolonged Presence In Afghanistan

General James Conway, the Marines Corps Commandant, told reporters at the Pentagon Tuesday that the U.S. will likely be in Afghanistan for years, despite plans to begin a phased drawdown by Summer, 2011.

While Conway would not state how long he expected the U.S. to remain in the country beyond the drawdown date, the General said “I think it will be a few years before conditions on the ground are such that we would expect to be able to turn to Afghan forces.”

Exacerbating these conditions is the security situation in Southern Afghanistan, which Conway emphasized will likely take more time to improve than other regions.

“It’s the birthplace of the Taliban,” Conway added. 

Conway, who recently returned from a trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Romania and Germany, is slated to retire next month. Tuesday marked his last press conference at the Pentagon.