Mullen visits front line of Afghanistan war

[unhappycamper]

Mullen visits front line of Afghanistan war
By ANNE GEARAN
AP National Security Writer
Dec 17, 4:42 AM EST

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FRONTENAC, Afghanistan (AP) -- The top U.S. military officer on Thursday visited the front lines of the war in Afghanistan, where he advised troops to "focus on the people of this country."

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made his first stop at a small base where U.S. forces have taken heavy losses since arriving in August. The Army's 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry has suffered 21 killed and 40 wounded - out of a group of roughly 800 - in the short time it has been deployed.

But troops have also made inroads against Taliban supply lines in the critical Kandahar province.

Mullen told the troops that the way to win is to focus on protecting major population areas and ensuring that Afghans can move freely in their own country.

"We can tactically win, but if we're killing local civilians were going to strategically lose," he warned. "I hope more than anything you will be able to focus on the people of this country. That's what this is all about."


Rest of Stripes article at: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_US_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-12-17-02-52-56

[Captain Hilts]

1. No place for a sailor!!!!