Though the specific troop requests widely expected to come from General Stanley McChrystal have been received yet, Admiral Michael Mullen says that he expects there will needed to be more troops and “without question, more time and more commitment” to the Afghan War.
Coming just a day after he co-wrote a piece touting the continued escalation of the war, Senator John McCain cheered Admiral Mullen’s comments, saying every day the US doesn’t further escalate the eight year long conflict “puts lives in danger.”
Yet other senators, notably Carl Levin, pressed the admiral on the wisdom of adding to the US combat force. Sen. Levin has advocated keeping troop levels roughly flat and adding to the “civilian surge” aimed at training the large but largely ineffective Afghan military.
Gen. McChrystal’s official troop request is expected in the next few weeks, but it has already been reported that he will request around 20,000 additionaltroops for the conflict. Though the war is increasingly unpopular, it is widely expected that President Obama will endorse the troop request.
It is not possible to discuss the number of troops on any basis other than fact. In a July 23 interview, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs, said "The US is not an occupation force in Afghanistan"
. Now, less than two months later, he as talking about an additional 1,000 troops PLUS an anticipated 20,000 troops at a later date, all this with John McCain standing by as cheerleader!
How can these people speak in front of cameras? How can Washington politicians continue to neglect the will of their constituents? How can they bear to look a veteran on his/her third tour for example, in the eye? How can they spend another day in Afghanistan without identifying any military objectives? Speaking in broad lush tones, Admiral Mullen wants to bring the Taliban into the political process, and knowing we cannot "turn" them all, those we cannot turn will have to be "killed or captured," all while we are not an occupation force and with another 20,000 non-occupying troops on the way.
All credibility is broken.
It is not possible to discuss the number of troops on any basis other than fact. In a July 23 interview, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said "The US is not an occupation force in Afghanistan" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyFWQuOwtMA” target=”_blank”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyFWQuOwtMA . Now, less than two months later, he as talking about an additional 1,000 troops PLUS an anticipated 20,000 troops at a later date, all this with John McCain standing by as cheerleader!
How can these people speak in front of cameras? How can Washington politicians continue to neglect the will of their constituents? How can they bear to look a veteran on his/her third tour for example, in the eye? How can they spend another day in Afghanistan without identifying any military objectives? Speaking in broad lush tones, Admiral Mullen wants to bring the Taliban into the political process, and knowing we cannot "turn" them all, those we cannot turn will have to be "killed or captured," all while we are not an occupation force and with another 20,000 non-occupying troops on the way.
All credibility is broken.