NIE on Afghanistan reportedly 'grim'

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A classified report on Afghanistan being prepared by U.S. intelligence analysts calls the Asian country's state "grim," ABC News reports.

Sources close to the preparation of the National Intelligence Estimate said the Bush administration does not plan to declassify it before the election. It is to be presented to policy makers in the administration.

While sources did not tell ABC details about the contents, they described the news as "grim" seven years after the U.S. invasion that toppled the Taliban regime. Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave a similarly gloomy picture in testimony before Congress.

"I'm not sure we're winning it in Afghanistan," he said.

Mullen said he was unsure if any troop increase could achieve all the U.S. objectives in Afghanistan without a change in approach.