Mullen warns of training gaps, lack of balance

[unhappycamper]

Mullen warns of training gaps, lack of balance
By John T. Bennett - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 18, 2008 18:23:53 EST

The Iraq war has prevented the U.S. military from training for the full scope of operations the White House might require it to perform, which could give American foes “incentives to act,” the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff told his staff in an annual guidance document.

In his Chairman’s Guidance for 2008-09, Adm. Michael Mullen branded the marrying of terrorists and weapons of mass destruction the “greatest threat to the U.S.,” and calls for Washington to better execute a “broader Middle East strategy.”

Several observers said the undated five-page document, posted online Nov. 18, contains little that would create tension with President-elect Barack Obama or the group of defense experts that he could tap to run the Pentagon and set his administration’s defense policies.

“The guidance talks about things in a way that the Obama administration should be very comfortable with,” said Andrew Krepinevich, executive director of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

But one sticking point might be Mullen’s statement that the military “must do all we can to win these two wars.” Several observers noted that Obama and his national security advisers have talked more about withdrawing from Iraq than winning the conflict there.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_mullen_obama_111808/%2e