Joint Chiefs chairman offers Congress sober assessment on Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

Joint Chiefs chairman offers Congress sober assessment on Afghanistan
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, September 11, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Wednesday gave lawmakers a less than enthusiastic assessment of the war in Afghanistan.

“I’m not convinced we’re winning it in Afghanistan; I am convinced we can,” Adm. Mike Mullen told Congress.

Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates testified Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee on the situation in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, President Bush announced that 8,000 troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by early next year, while an Army brigade combat team and a Marine battalion will be diverted from Iraq to Afghanistan.

While noting the progress in Iraq, Gates said significant challenges still remain, such as the Iraqi government’s opposition to folding the “Sons of Iraq” into Iraqi security forces.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=57329

[Olney Blue]

1. Now that we know that Bush has no respect for the Joint Chiefs, this

will likely go unheeded.

:banghead:

[alsame]

2. Hasn't Obama been saying this for 2 years? eom