WASHINGTON, March 29: Pentagon officials made it clear Thursday that US forces, despite their involvement in Afghanistan and the global war on terrorism, were ready and capable of undertaking any mission ordered by President George W. Bush.

“You can be absolutely certain that, to the extent that the United States of America decides to undertake an activity, that we will be capable of doing it,” Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told a Pentagon press conference.

He was responding to questions on whether US forces, deployed in Afghanistan since Oct 7 following the September 11 terror attacks on US targets, were overstretched and capable of fighting on other fronts simultaneously, such as Iraq.

“There should be no doubt in anybody’s mind that whatever the president would ask us to do, we’re ready to do, “ General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

Senior US military officials, including the commander of US forces in the Pacific, recently voiced concern in Congress about whether they would have adequate resources if they were asked to conduct additional military missions.—AFP