Mullen says more US forces needed for Afghan war

[Naveed Yaseen]

WASHINGTON: More American troops will likely be needed to win the war in Afghanistan, the top US military officer told sceptical Democrats on Tuesday as he cited a need to prove US commitment in the battle-ravaged region. Admiral Mike Mullen – chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff – told the Senate Armed Services Committee that a proper effort to counter the Taliban insurgency correctly “probably means more forces”. Mullen spoke during a hearing on his nomination for a second term as the president’s senior military adviser. Mullen told the senators that “it’s very clear to me that we will need more resources”, to carry out the revamped counterinsurgency strategy Obama laid out earlier this year. Mullen said he had made no recommendations to the White House about how many more forces might be needed. He said McChrystal would submit his request very soon. ap

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