Joint Chiefs Chair: Afghan War Needs More Troops

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 15, 2009 12:47 PM CDT
Joint Chiefs Chair: Afghan War Needs More Troops
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in August.   (AP Photo/Brian Bohannon)

The drumbeat for more US troops in Afghanistan goes on: The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told senators today that a "properly resourced counter-insurgency probably means more forces." Adm. Mike Mullen said he hasn't yet received a formal request from Gen. Stanley McChrystal but expects one "very soon," notes Politico. He also expects top Pentagon officials to agree with the assessment and make a recommendation to President Obama.

“It is very clear to me we will need more resources to execute the president’s strategy from the end of March,” said Mullen. “We very badly under-resourced Afghanistan for four or five years,” he said. No word yet on specific numbers. The US currently has 62,000 troops in Afghanistan and will add 21,000 more before the end of the year. The new request would add to those numbers.
(More Joint Chiefs of Staff stories.)

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