U.S. military chiefs face tough questioning from senators

WASHINGTON — America's top two military leaders on Tuesday defended President Barack Obama's strategy to defeat Islamic State militants amid criticism from Republican senators who argued that the administration's program to train and equip thousands of moderate Syrian rebels is faltering.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter acknowledged publicly for the first time that the program aimed at stopping the momentum of the Islamic State has slowed to the point where it has only about 60 participating fighters — a level well beneath that envisioned by U.S. policymakers.

Sen. John McCain, the Armed Services Committee chairman and persistent Obama foreign policy critic, told Carter: "I got to tell you that after four years, Mr. Secretary, that is not a very impressive number."

The Associated Press reported last month that the number of trainees involved in the program at bases in Jordan and Turkey had dropped below 100, with dozens of recruits fleeing the program. At a committee hearing, Carter conceded that 60 was not an impressive number and said it's going to take time to build it up.

Read Wednesday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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