US General Warns 'Failure' in Afghanistan Without New Troops
By VOA News
21 September 2009
The top U.S. and NATO military commander in Afghanistan is warning that the mission "will likely result in failure" if more troops are not sent within the next year.
The New York Times and The Washington Post published portions of a confidential assessment made by General Stanley McChrystal on their Web sites Monday. The general wrote that inadequate resources will risk a longer, more-costly conflict that will probably result in defeat.
But he says success in Afghanistan is still achievable if military forces can reverse insurgent momentum.
U.S. President Barack Obama and his national security team are reviewing McChrystal's report, which he submitted to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on August 30. The president is trying to decide whether to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
Gates said last week more time is needed to make a decision regarding troop levels.
Meanwhile, Italians paid their last respects Monday to six soldiers killed last week in a bomb attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi are attending a state funeral for the soldiers in Rome.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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