US officials say war goals modest in Afghanistan - Yahoo! News: "'I don't think that the Taliban being stronger than they've been since 2001 is, is news,' Mullen said, noting the insurgency regained momentum over several years.
The Taliban's firmer purchase on key areas of Afghanistan while U.S. and allied forces challenge that territory for the first time makes the coming year crucial, military officials and members of both political parties agree.
'I certainly understand it is the ninth year, it is a long time, the sacrifices have been significant,' Mullen said. 'At the same time, I think the strategies are right.'
Release of the nearly 77,000 secret military records from the war has done real harm but hasn't affected the U.S. war strategy, Mullen said.
Gates accused the website WikiLeaks, which posted the material a week ago, of 'moral culpability' for potentially deadly repercussions. The Taliban can glean a lot about U.S. tactics and sources from the documents, Gates said.
'That's where I think the verdict is guilty on WikiLeaks,' Gates said. 'They have put this out without any regard whatsoever for the consequences.'"
