Military Chief Tells Congress More Troops, More Time Needed

Earlier today, a morning hearing of the Senate Armed Forces Committee took place and it apparently served as a preview of intense debates to come over the next few weeks as the White House analyzes strategies over the best way to handle the situation in Afghanistan. Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, requested more troops and more time in Afghanistan in order to ensure military success in the region.

According to The New York Times, Mullen's request was echoed by former Presidential candidate and current Senator of Arizona, John McCain, who declared that any delay that could potentially prohibit more combat troops being sent to Afghanistan would jeopardize the lives of our soldiers already in the area.

The viewpoint that was shared by Adm. Mike Mullen and Senator John McCain was debated by Democratic Senator Carl Levin, who argued that the best way to handle the situation in Afghanistan was to enhance training efforts of the security forces already based in Afghanistan in order to make them more skilled.

The New York Times is reporting that the morning hearing was initially called in order to analyze Adm. Mullen's nomination for a second term to serve as the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. However, it quickly turned into a heated debate over whether or not more American troops should be sent to Afghanistan.