CNN REPORTS: ADMIRAL SAYS TOO MANY TROOPS IN IRAQ AND NOT ENOUGH FOR AFGHANISTAN

CNN is reporting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, says conditions on the ground in Iraq are such it is unlikely more troops can be pulled out of Iraq to help the festering conditions in Afghanistan.

Admiral: Iraq has troops, Afghanistan waits
Story Highlights
Adm. Mike Mullen: So many troops in Iraq, Afghanistan needs are unmet
He appears to end hope for significant additional U.S. troop cuts in Iraq
Conditions in Iraq are not likely to free up additional troops, he says
Defense Department: 147,796 U.S. troops in Iraq as of November 2006

From Jamie McIntyreCNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/02/mullen.iraq.afghanistan/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military has too many troops tied down in Iraq to send needed reinforcements to Afghanistan this year, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs said Wednesday.

"There are force requirements there [in Afghanistan] that we can't currently meet," Adm. Mike Mullen said. "Having forces in Iraq at the level they're at doesn't allow us to fill the need that we have in Afghanistan."

As of November 1, 2006, the U.S. had 147,796 troops in Iraq, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

In making the statement at a Pentagon briefing, Mullen also appeared to dash hopes for any significant additional U.S. troop cuts in Iraq after last year's troop buildup ends this summer.
Conditions in Iraq are not likely to free up additional troops, he said, "and until forces become available with respect to that, I would not expect us to be able to provide additional forces to Afghanistan, which is also a priority."

Mullen also said that after the last of the "surge brigades" leaves in July, it could be as long as four months before decisions are made on additional troop reductions.

"Clearly, we're going to stop at the end of July reducing forces, take a period of time. But I'm just not prepared to say it's 45 days or it's 60 or it's 120," he said.

Mullen also said once decisions are made it could take another month or two to arrange for the logistics for troops to come home.

In Afghanistan, Mullen said, the priority is for about 3,000 troops to train Afghan Security forces, but there is a need for two additional combat brigades.

That need is being partially met by 3,500 U.S. Marines who arrived in Afghanistan in March. But they will be leaving in the fall.

Mullen said he is anxiously awaiting decisions by NATO about whether the alliance will provide additional troops for Afghanistan.