WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The top U.S. military commander said Wednesday that while victory in Afghanistan is possible, the current strategy is not leading Americans in that direction.
Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he is "not convinced" the United States is winning in Afghanistan, The Washington Post reported.
"I'm convinced we can," he added, calling for a "more comprehensive" strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He said an intensifying insurgency there requires more U.S. troops and greater U.S. military involvement in cross-border tribal areas.
"Frankly, we are running out of time," Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee. He said the influx of U.S. forces into Afghanistan announced Tuesday by President Bush -- an Army brigade and Marine battalion with a total of about 4,500 troops -- is inadequate to meet the demands of commanders there, but was "a good start."
Defense Secretary Robert Gates added civilian efforts "must be on the same page" as those of the military.
"I am still not satisfied with the level of coordination and collaboration" on such things as reconstruction and building capacity of the Afghan government, he told lawmakers.
