Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Pacific Stars and Stripes
November 9, 2007 By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The war on terrorism, the future of the U.S. military and developments in the U.S.-South Korean alliance were among topics discussed Wednesday at Yongsan Garrison during a town hall meeting with the military’s highest-ranking member.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen began the meeting by thanking audience members for their service.
He then spoke briefly about his visit to Korea and the U.S. military’s future in a support role on the peninsula. Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for meetings with military leaders from both countries.
“We’ve set a date for four-plus years from now to turn over operational control to the (South Koreans),” Mullen said. “I think that’s an incredibly positive thing. We’ve looked at how we are going to be in the supporting role as they will lead this mission in the future.”
He added that South Korean military leaders he’s spoken with say they are enthusiastic and feel a sense of pride that they’re able to move ahead with the transition.
After talking briefly about his priorities as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, which include developing strategy for the Middle East, “restoring, revitalizing and reconstituting” the military and not losing focus on challenges outside the Middle East, Mullen opened the event to questions.
Servicemembers asked about issues ranging from restriction on their behavior to possible new fronts in the war on terrorism.
One soldier asked Mullen about a newscast he’d seen that suggested alternate explanations for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Mullen dismissed alternate explanations for the event as “conspiracy theory.”
“As someone who was in the Pentagon when the planes flew in, I can assure you I can attest to what happened that day,” he said. “And there isn’t any other explanation. We are constantly reminded of the sacrifice of people who lost lives that day.”
Mullen described the attacks as the “signature event" that started a war he said is far from over.
“I believe right now we’re going to be fighting this war for a long time. I believe it is generational,” Mullen said. “It is decades. It is not going to be 18 months or two years or four years or 10 years. … This is a war against radical jihadists who care nothing about what we care about.”
Another soldier asked whether Iran or Syria could become U.S. battlegrounds in the war on terrorism.
Mullen said he was concerned about Iran, adding that the country is a known supporter of terrorists and had been providing technology used to kill U.S. and coalition servicemembers.
He said he hoped diplomacy would solve the problem, but warned that military options should not be ruled out.
“I think the military option should never be taken off of the table,” he said. “I would not want restraint to be mistaken for a lack of resolve.”
November 9, 2007 By Jimmy Norris, Stars and Stripes
YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The war on terrorism, the future of the U.S. military and developments in the U.S.-South Korean alliance were among topics discussed Wednesday at Yongsan Garrison during a town hall meeting with the military’s highest-ranking member.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen began the meeting by thanking audience members for their service.
He then spoke briefly about his visit to Korea and the U.S. military’s future in a support role on the peninsula. Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for meetings with military leaders from both countries.
“We’ve set a date for four-plus years from now to turn over operational control to the (South Koreans),” Mullen said. “I think that’s an incredibly positive thing. We’ve looked at how we are going to be in the supporting role as they will lead this mission in the future.”
He added that South Korean military leaders he’s spoken with say they are enthusiastic and feel a sense of pride that they’re able to move ahead with the transition.
After talking briefly about his priorities as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, which include developing strategy for the Middle East, “restoring, revitalizing and reconstituting” the military and not losing focus on challenges outside the Middle East, Mullen opened the event to questions.
Servicemembers asked about issues ranging from restriction on their behavior to possible new fronts in the war on terrorism.
One soldier asked Mullen about a newscast he’d seen that suggested alternate explanations for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Mullen dismissed alternate explanations for the event as “conspiracy theory.”
“As someone who was in the Pentagon when the planes flew in, I can assure you I can attest to what happened that day,” he said. “And there isn’t any other explanation. We are constantly reminded of the sacrifice of people who lost lives that day.”
Mullen described the attacks as the “signature event" that started a war he said is far from over.
“I believe right now we’re going to be fighting this war for a long time. I believe it is generational,” Mullen said. “It is decades. It is not going to be 18 months or two years or four years or 10 years. … This is a war against radical jihadists who care nothing about what we care about.”
Another soldier asked whether Iran or Syria could become U.S. battlegrounds in the war on terrorism.
Mullen said he was concerned about Iran, adding that the country is a known supporter of terrorists and had been providing technology used to kill U.S. and coalition servicemembers.
He said he hoped diplomacy would solve the problem, but warned that military options should not be ruled out.
“I think the military option should never be taken off of the table,” he said. “I would not want restraint to be mistaken for a lack of resolve.”