By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2009 – Additional American troops in Afghanistan are making it possible to institute the new strategy in the country, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union program, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said Operation Khanjar, which means Strike of the Sword, will challenge the Taliban and al-Qaida in the Helmand River valley in southern Afghanistan. The area has been a terrorist safe haven and which has most of the opium poppy cultivation in the country.
\”This is really the most concentrated area for opium growing and we expect a significant combat challenge from the Taliban,\” he said.
This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.