AFGHANISTAN: Admiral says Marines fighting corruption

In Afghanistan for a six-day trip, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Friday with Marines from the Twentynine Palms-based 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment.

The two-seven is assigned to train the Afghan National Police.

Afghan police, Mullen said, "have a history of corruption, and they've had challenges with this in every local area and district. Up until now, they haven't been trained very well, and so we start with a significant deficit, and it's going to take some time to catch up."

Mullen is known for straight talk. While it's not unusual for brass to talk candidly to the troops and then ask reporters to keep their comments off the record, Mullen had his posted on a military website.

The two-seven, Mullen added, has "a very critical, top priority mission in a very tough environment." Also dangerous: the battalion has had 10 Marines killed, 50 wounded since arriving in the spring.

Tony Perry, in San Diego

Photo: Adm. Mike Mullen meets troops in Afghanistan. Credit: U.S. Navy