Adm. Mullen: Military making ’steady progress’ in Marjah, war in general
By Anne Gearan, APMonday, February 22, 2010
US sees ’steady progress’ in Marjah
WASHINGTON — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen says the military is making “steady progress” in its effort to retake the Taliban stronghold of Marjah but that the nation “must be patient.”
Mullen told reporters at the Pentagon that the operation is “messy” and “incredibly wasteful,” but “that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the cost.” The military campaign is in its second week.
Mullen says Marjah and the war can be won with the proper resources and strategy.
Mullen also expressed regret for a NATO airstrike that killed at least 27 Afghan civilians. It was the third coalition strike this month to kill noncombatants and draw a sharp rebuke from Afghanistan’s government about endangering civilians.
