Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Adm. Michael Mullen, the newly appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Fort Leavenworth on Tuesday to talk to troops about the current state of the military and what the future may hold.
Mullen was appointed to his new position on Oct. 1. He said the military would have to adapt to the changing times and a new kind of warfare.
“We face a perpetually vexing question,” Mullen said. “How do we prepare for the future without repeating what we’ve already done?”
He said the military would have to become “faster, more adaptable and more lethal” to answer current challenges in the Middle East. He said that although he thought the United States was succeeding in the war in Iraq, the problems in the Middle East would not go away anytime soon.
“There is persistent conflict in the foreseeable future,” he said. “We will win our nation’s war.”
Captain John Kirby discusses the importance of the relationship between the U.S. Armed Forces and the media. He specified how context needs to be conveyed in articles so U.S. citizens understand the full story.
Mullen said he felt a comprehensive military strategy should be applied to all of the Middle East, not just Iraq and Afghanistan. He cited Iran’s increasing nuclear capability as an example.
“With Iran comes a lot of very strong, sometimes extreme rhetoric that supports terrorism,” he said. “The diplomatic world has unanimously voted against where Iran is headed.”
A soldier in the audience asked Mullen if a military draft of civilians was being considered to bolster the armed forces.
“This is the best military I think this nation has ever had,” Mullen replied. “I’m old enough to remember when we were a draft force. I’m not anxious to return to that.”
Mullen said another important goal of the military was to branch out and communicate more with other armed force divisions such as the Navy and Air Force.
“The military can’t just do it all,” he said.
Mullen said he also hoped the military could improve relations with civilians. He said while many members of the public opposed the war in Iraq, their support for the troops remained strong.
“I give the American people much more credit than some,” he said. “They know what is going on. They are providing hundreds of billions of dollars for our efforts.”
Capt. John Kirby, spokesman for Mullen, said the interaction of the military with members of the press and public was essential to the military’s success.
“What it comes down to is relationships,” Kirby said. “Where a back-and-forth relationship between the military and others is strong, the military is strong. The key is relationships and trust.”
Mullen said he was unsure when large troop reductions could be made in Iraq. He did say that he would like to see troops stay at home longer after completing long tours overseas.
“They’re going to come home and their families want them home,” he said.
— Edited by Luke Morris
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