OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks approves of the United States pulling most of its troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, as long as the reason for the moves is not purely political.

Franks said in an interview Thursday that if the decisions are based on the needs of the American people and the need for security, then we're doing the right thing.

President Barack Obama has announced that most American troops will withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year, and his aim is for combat operations in Afghanistan to conclude by the end of 2014.

Franks directed the early months of the invasion of Iraq. He says he is no longer close enough to the decision-making process to take sides on whether the right moves are being made.