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.
U.S. military officials said Sunday that three American troops died in Afghanistan in two separate incidents.
The NATO-led force in Afghanistan says two U.S. troops were killed Sunday in a non-combat-related incident in the volatile south, while the third American serviceman died in a hostile incident Saturday in the eastern Afghanistan.
