The top commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan has told USA Today that the United States will need nearly twice as many troops for up to four years to stabilize Afghanistan. Gen. David McKiernan said the US needs to raise troop levels from about 32,000 to around 60,000. A new report by the International Council on Security and Development estimates that the Taliban have expanded their footprint in Afghanistan and now have a permanent presence in nearly three-quarters of the country.