Joint Chiefs Chairman Michael G. Mullen, right, is more assertive on Afghanistan than his predecessors. With him is Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. Kevin Wolf / Associated PressGates Holds Secret Meeting With Afghan Commanders -- Reuters
WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates held an unannounced meeting with his top commanders in charge of the war in Afghanistan at a U.S. air base in Belgium, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The meeting on Sunday at Chievres Air Base was arranged to give Gates an update on a review of the war being conducted by U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.
"He wanted an opportunity to speak firsthand with his commanders and his senior military advisers about how the assessment was unfolding," Morrell told reporters.
Read more ....
More News On This High-Level Meeting
Gates Holds Afghan War Command Summit -- Voice of America
Gates, Mullen went to Belgium for Afghan war talk -- AP
Gates holds stealth meeting with US general on Afghan war -- AFP
U.S. defense chief meets with military advisors on Afghanistan -- China View
Commander of NATO and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan briefs Gates and Mullen on situation in Afghanistan -- Def Pro
Mullen creates Pak-Afghan Coordination Cell -- Daily Times
Joint Chiefs chairman making his influence felt -- L.A. Times
My Comment: Something must be up. There are only a few reasons why such a meeting will be arranged, they are .... (1) Dissatisfaction from Washington on the casualty rates and general progress of the war. (2) Answering the commanders need for more troops .... a demand that they have been making for the past year. (3) Laying the groundwork for a major escalation in the war.