US Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who took command of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan in June, last week turned over the strategic assessment requested by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Gates and JCS Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen reminded Pentagon reporters Sept. 3 that the report is not a resources request. Gates said that he expected to send his views and that of senior military leaders to the White House early this week, adding, “I expect that any request for additional resources would follow after this process and be similarly discussed by the President’s national security team.” Mullen said that McChrystal has offered “in frank and candid terms how he believes his forces can best accomplish the mission the President has assigned to him.” (Press briefing transcript)
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.