Wednesday
Jul082009
Adm. Mullen Discusses Threats Facing Troops In Afghanistan
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 3:37PM
By Sam Wechsler - Talk Radio News Service
Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke Wednesday about the need for the U.S. to better protect its troops from being harmed in the war in Afghanistan.
Mullen stated that “the center of gravity is really the protection of the [Afghan] people.” He added that civilian casualties are not conducive to winning the war.
He explained that the largest threats to the U.S. military in Afghanistan are attacks from IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) employed by the Taliban, and post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by American soldiers.
“We’ve come a long way with respect to [IEDs], but this is an enemy that is very adaptive and very capable...and as they adapt, we adapt, and they adapt again,” said Mullen. In order to better equalize the threat of IEDs, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is sending upwards of 2,000 armored all-terrain vehicles that provide better protection from the explosives.
“When I visit troops there is also a great skip in their step because they know they’ve made a difference, they’ve turned it around in a place like Iraq, and they’re very confident that they can get the job done in Afghanistan,” said Mullen.
As for a timetable, Mullen said that military must “turn the tide” against the Taliban within the next twelve to eighteen months.
Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke Wednesday about the need for the U.S. to better protect its troops from being harmed in the war in Afghanistan.
Mullen stated that “the center of gravity is really the protection of the [Afghan] people.” He added that civilian casualties are not conducive to winning the war.
He explained that the largest threats to the U.S. military in Afghanistan are attacks from IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) employed by the Taliban, and post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by American soldiers.
“We’ve come a long way with respect to [IEDs], but this is an enemy that is very adaptive and very capable...and as they adapt, we adapt, and they adapt again,” said Mullen. In order to better equalize the threat of IEDs, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is sending upwards of 2,000 armored all-terrain vehicles that provide better protection from the explosives.
“When I visit troops there is also a great skip in their step because they know they’ve made a difference, they’ve turned it around in a place like Iraq, and they’re very confident that they can get the job done in Afghanistan,” said Mullen.
As for a timetable, Mullen said that military must “turn the tide” against the Taliban within the next twelve to eighteen months.
Gates Defends Pace Of Haitian Relief Effort
"I don't know how this government could have acted faster," Gates said during a press briefing with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen. "There are just some certain facts of life."
Although the U.S. began mobilizing its relief efforts shortly after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake ravaged Haiti, a large portion of supplies slated to be delivered via-boat will not arrive until this weekend.
The defense secretary outlined a number of limitations, including the speed of the vessels, the small size of Haiti's airport and the collapse of the country's infrastructure.
According to both Gates and Mullen, using airdrops to provide necessary resources was rejected early-on in the planning stages. Gates noted that there were concerns that dropping supplies onto the distressed Caribbean nation could lead to riots. Thus far, according to Gates, there has been some level of scavenging for food and water, coupled with minor looting.
By Monday, Haiti is expected to have access to 9,000-10,000 U.S. troops, both on and off-shore. According to Mullen, there is still a possibility that more can be sent as details of the country's status develop.
"We are poised to do that," said Mullen. "[The U.S.] always has a ready brigade."