Appearing today before the Senate Armed Services Committee to press for more funding for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen warned that the next 18 months will be “critical” if America is to have any hope of winning in Afghanistan.
Not only that, but Admiral Mullen cautioned that “the outcome of today’s conflicts will shape the global security environment for decades to come.” Though the comment was meant to increase support for the funding, it will likely raise further concerns since the last eight plus years of the war have left the situation ever worsening.
The budget request, as Admiral Mullen sought, included $159 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as another $30 billion for undefined overseas “contingency” operations. Mullen says Afghanistan is the war that “needs fighting the most right now.”
Though some Democrats have expressed reticence about approving the massive amount, it is widely expected that a combination of Republicans and hawkish Democrats will allow the funding to pass through easily.
He's got to go.
Hey, Mullen! When do you "retire"? Is it 18 months from now?
Admiral Mullet: "Next 18 Months Vital to Afghan War." No, sir, your request another 189 billion dollars is vital to Pentagon's and the military-industrial complex'es insufferably boated budgets. Thanks for doing your part to bankrupt the American people.
same rethoric, different time, nothing changes exept the profits made by profiteers.
Mullen does NOT have a clue – he needs to resign – he is an embarrassment to the Navy. The reality that History teaches us is that we are NEVER NEVER NEVER going to win a war in Afghanistan – whatever 'winning' is suppose to be?
"Winning", in the establishment's mind, is a never-ending stream of war profits. But it will end because of this one infallible law: "whatever it is that is unsustainable must eventually come to an end."