Mullen says U.S. faces tough questions

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday at the Center for a New American Security in Washington that the United States is facing tough questions.

The speech was Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's first public address since taking the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mullen said the United States faces tough challenges countering emerging threats from transnational terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Mullen also said the United States must preserve what he called the freedom of action to contend with regional instability, deter aggressive action by potentially hostile state actors and help manage the growing competition for natural resources among other challenges.

"Tonight, I invite you to consider some tough questions and help your military help me rigorously analyze the major strategic challenges we face as we develop a dynamic military strategy of cooperation for the 21st century," Mullen said, in a statement.

At the top of Mullen's list of questions was how to eliminate violent extremism, how to deter aggressive regimes or radical extremists from obtaining weapons of mass destruction technology or weapons development and how to remain sufficiently capable of deterring aggressive actions by nations including Iran, North Korea, and others who seek to expand their military capability.