The Mission In Afghanistan Is Not Working -- Pentagon

A U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker re-fuels a U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 139 while a U.S. Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 22 flies alongside providing security above the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, Sept. 4, 2008. The aircraft are supporting NATO and Afghan forces as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Erik Etz

Pentagon Admits Afghan Strategy Not Succeeding -- Swiss Info

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military conceded it was not winning the fight against an increasingly deadly insurgency in Afghanistan and said on Wednesday it would revise its strategy to combat militant safe havens in Pakistan.

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee success in Afghanistan would require more civilian effort beyond the military fight.

"Frankly, we're running out of time," Mullen said.

"I'm not convinced we are winning it in Afghanistan. I am convinced we can," he said, offering a sober assessment nearly seven years since U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Violence in Afghanistan has soared over two years as al Qaeda and Taliban fighters have regrouped in the remote region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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My Comment: They are stating the obvious, and are also indicating that the mini-surge planned for Afghanistan is probably inadequate.