By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen argued for patience when it comes to the United States’ relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Thursday. Mullen said he plans to set benchmarks for progress while in the two countries.

“I think we know what needs to be done. I think there are some significant challenges in the how to do this. You’ve got to have the security umbrella but the key is education long term. The key is village by village. The key is putting institutions which are not corrupt, developing capacity at every level…which provide for their people,” said Mullen.

In his opening statement Committee Chairman Senator John Kerry (D-MA) said the Obama administration has recognized the tough road ahead and set a goal of not allowing Afghanistan to become a “safe haven for al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups that seek to attack us” again.

Another talking point of the Committee hearing was the United States’ presence in Pakistan. Kerry and Senator Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) have set forth the Kerry-Lugar bill which would fix a Pakistan policy that they believe has “largely failed,” according to Kerry’s opening statement. The bill would triple non-military aid, authorizing it for five to ten years and change the fundamentals of the United States’ relationship with Pakistan. President Obama has called on Congress to pass this Kerry-Lugar bill as part of his overall strategy, said Kerry.

In the conclusion of Mullen’s written statement he said believes the State Department should be funded as the lead agent of U.S. diplomacy and development and that would still require the “backing of a robust military and strong economy.” He said the nation’s military activities should not lead the nation’s foreign policy but instead support it.

Mullen said, “As we win the wars we are fighting and restore the health of our Armed Forces, the military’s approach will increasingly support our diplomatic counterparts through the persistent engagement required to build networks of capable partners. By operating hand-in-hand with partners and integrated with the interagency and non-governmental organizations, we will more successfully protect the citizens of this Nation.”

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, delivered an address at the Reserve Officer’s Association Mid-Winter conference. He spoke of the need to integrate the full time army and and the reserve at this time. Admiral Mullen addressed the global economic crisis, stating that it instantly proved the interconnectedness of societies around the world. He also expressed concern that the crisis will result in “increased global instability” and this will affect security and the role of the military in ways which we cannot predict.

Admiral Mullen also focused intently on the need of the military and reserves to care for its members and their families. He believes that it is “well within our resources” in the U.S. to make sure that all our soldiers, and their families, receive the support they need. This includes preparing soldiers for reintegration with their work and families, as well as increasing the amount of time soldiers are allowed to come home. Furthermore, there needs to be a framework of support for families of fallen and injured soldiers, as well as soldiers suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.