McChrystal: Afghan strategy needs revising

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan called for a revised strategy and greater unity to defeat insurgents affiliated with the Taliban and al-Qaida.

Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal delivered the assessment in his strategic review Monday that was being distributed to the U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon as well as NATO headquarters, the Washington Post said..

While McChrystal didn't request more troops for Afghanistan, several media agencies reported he would do so in a separate recommendation.

"The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort," McChrystal said in a statement accompanying his review.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said U.S. commanders and policymakers agree "that for many years, our effort in Afghanistan has been under-resourced politically, militarily, economically."

President Barack Obama was focused on meeting benchmarks and that "we disrupt, dismantle, and ultimately destroy" extremists, Gibbs said. "It's going to take some doing. It's going to take more resources, which the president has dedicated to this problem."

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, touring a Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas, said he expected to receive McChrystal's report soon, and that it would lead to a reassessment of the situation in Afghanistan, the Post said.

"I think that General McChrystal's assessment will be a realistic one and set forth the challenges we have in front of us," Gates said.

The United States has about 62,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan. NATO allies have another 35,000 forces. The Pentagon plans to add 6,000 troops by the end of 2009.