Though it seems hard to imagine given how much violence in Afghanistan has already risen over the course of the year, top US commander General Stanley McChrystal insists that the situation is still getting worse, and the spread of violence is “more than I would have gathered.”

The general’s comments, in an interview with 60 minutes which will be publically aired this weekend, come as the commander is pressuring the Obama Administration to approve his plan for a massive escalation of the number of forces in the nation, up to 45,000 additional US troops.

Incredible considering his ‘new’ strategy seems to consist of little more than adding troops to the conflict, Gen. McChrystal says he does not believe that “overwhelming firepower” is the way to win the conflict.

McChrystal cautions about the need to reduce civilian casualties, and though he claims to have eliminated operations that he deemed “too dangerous” to Afghan civilians massive tolls are still being reported.

The general also cautioned that it is important that the US not be seen as occupiers, the primary reason cited by Afghan police for opposing McChrystal’s escalation.

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