U.S. may up troop count in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- The United States may consider raising troop strength in Afghanistan even as it considers cuts in Iraq, top defense officials indicated.

The indications came Wednesday at the Pentagon from U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Gates said based on his earlier decision not to extend U.S. troop deployment in Afghanistan, there were few options other than moving troops originally destined for Iraq to Afghanistan, CNN reported.

Gates and Mullen spoke in the wake of last Sunday's major battle against Taliban militants in Afghanistan's Kunar province, which left nine U.S. soldiers dead and 15 wounded, the deadliest against U.S. troops in three years.

"We are clearly working very hard to see if there are opportunities to send additional forces sooner rather than later," CNN quoted Gates as saying.

Mullen said he saw enough improvements in Iraq during his recent visit to recommend troop cuts there, the report said.

Concerning the Afghan attack, Mullen said the Taliban insurgents came in large numbers, were well-trained and well-armed. "It was a very complex attack," he said.

"The enemy in Afghanistan has grown bolder, more sophisticated and more diverse," the admiral said. "We can and must do better."