(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray
(D-WA) questioned Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen on progress in Afghanistan.
“Many of our Fort
Lewis soldiers are out on the front line and we are concerned about increasing
fatalities. Furthermore, gains in Marjah have not been solidified.
Can you give us any assurances?” Senator Murray asked during the
hearing.
Secretary Gates responded to Senator Murray’s question by
saying that they had predicted increased casualties for the summer, describing
the casualties as “tragic yet inevitable.”
Admiral
Mullen said that progress in Afghanistan has been slow, but steady, citing
increases in schools and local Afghan government employees as signs that were
moving in the right direction.
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