Mullen releases goals for Afghanistan, U.S. force in 2010

Posted December 21st, 2009 by Megan McCloskey in Stripes Central
Traveling in Afghanistan last week, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke often about the ticking clock to get the job done there.

But laying out his objectives for 2010, Adm. Mike Mullen only hints at the challenge presented by the 18-month window before troops will start to withdraw from the country.

In the memo released today, reference to the time frame is brief: "The President's strategy sets us on an urgent course in the region," and "our main effort now must be to push forces into the theater as quickly as possible - including shifting the balance of enablers from Iraq."

Not surprisingly, Mullen writes that "Afghanistan has deteriorated in the last year" and Pakistan needs to continue progress with its internal security. He also pointed to Iran as a critical threat, saying force must be an option there.

The six-page memo, which can be read here, also focuses on the health of the force. The mounting deficit will require difficult choices, but "we must guard against growing hollow," he writes.

Although Defense Secretary Robert Gates has consistently admonished the military for being preoccupied with possible future threats, Mullen writes he is worried the force won't be ready for a different kind of war.

"The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will end, and we must think today about how the U.S. military will need to adapt to future threats."


The highlights:

"Combat leaders in all theaters and at all levels must continue to be both creative and efficient in force employment. How force is used often matters more than how much we have."
He said he expects commanders "to consistently make choices, however painful, that fully support the fight."
"My engagements with Pakistan have convinced me of the importance of a long-term U.S. commitment. To achieve our strategic goals we must deliver robust civilian and military programs to the government of Pakistan."
He said there is a reason for optimism in Iraq, but "drawing down must be closely managed. Lingering tensions could flash."
"We will not see marked improvements in the ground force dwell time until 2011."
"I remain concerned that the pace of operations prevents us from training for the entire range of war and erodes our ability to counter future threats."
"We must put more resources - intellectual, money and people - into accelerating development of our cyber capabilities and integrating them into our daily operations. Impeded progress here is a serious risk in our national security posture."
Repeating a refrain he has said often in the last six months, he wrote that the military has "not yet done enough" in "research and care for the unique wounds of our current wars." He called for accelerated efforts. "To understand the way forward, we will conduct an independent assessment of the progress - and setbacks - in the care of our warriors over the last two years."
Referring to climate change and competition for resources, he said: "We do not yet understand the military implications of the changing global environment, and must examine them closely to be ready."
"We must rethink what deterrence means where the familiar problems are coupled with transnational, non-state and proliferation threats."

Source:blogs.stripes.com/