The violence comes as the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said Wednesday he foresees a long-term US occupation of Afghanistan. Mullen spoke Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington.

Adm. Mike Mullen: “My expectation is that we will have a long-term relationship with Afghanistan. When I get asked about time, I think the best number I can give you is I believe that we have to start to turn the tide with respect to the Taliban in the next twelve to eighteen months. And I believe the forces that we have and the strategy that we have and the approach that we have will allow us to do that.”