The former commander of US forces in the Middle East says oil could have American troops tied down there for the next 50 years.

Retired general John Abizaid, 56, Former Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), said Wednesday "We shouldn't assume for even a minute that in the next 25 to 50 years the American military might be able to come home, relax and take it easy, because the strategic situation in the region doesn't seem to show that as being possible".

General Abizaid, who retired in May as the longest-serving commander of US Central Command, said the rise of Arab-Israeli conflict and the world economy's dependency on Middle East oil will keep Americans there for a long time.

Abizaid said oil is behind a lot of what he described as the "geopolitical moves" in the region. It's "absolutely essential" for the US to figure out how to lessen its dependency on foreign energy, he added.

MHR/MMA