Posted on 06/24/2008 6:37:37 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
(CNSNews.com) - Progress in Iraq has been so substantial that by the end of this year, the U.S. may be able withdraw forces from Iraq to support its troops in Afghanistan, where violence has been rising, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday.
"I am hopeful that if the turnaround in Iraq continues as it has in recent months, then we will be able to create some additional force [in Afghanistan] at the same time that we are growing the Army and the Marine Corps," he said at a Pentagon news briefing.
"Through that combination over the next 24 to 36 months, I am hopeful that we will be able to create some additional forces, which will allow me to get more forces into the fight in Afghanistan," he said.
Mullen said that there has been increased violence in Afghanistan because there are not enough troops there and the Taliban has begun to adopt asymmetric tactics similar to those used by the insurgents in Iraq.
"Violence [in Afghanistan] is up this year by every single measure," said Mullen. "The Taliban have by and large moved to -- not unlike what happened in Iraq -- asymmetric Improvised Explosive Device kinds of warfare.
"In the last six or seven months, we have a put a tremendous amount of focus on Afghanistan, and I think rightfully so," he said. "It is an economy-of-force campaign, and by definition, that means we don't have enough forces there.
"I am constrained on forces I can generate quite frankly because of Iraq," Mullen stated. "Afghanistan is a significant challenge and is going to take a significant period of time."
Mullen said the fight is going well in Iraq, although the job is not finished.
"Iraq is in a much better place than it was a year ago, across the board," he said. "But we're not at the sustainable point yet, we're not at the irreversible point yet."
He noted that during a recent trip he took to visit military bases in Iraq, U.S. troops shared their sense of accomplishment.
"They know that as a part of the surge, they made a huge difference and that they left Iraq a different place than when they arrived," Mullen added. "They know it, and they are proud of what they have done."
Please, please, please, no more Navy admirals in charge of anything important.
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