Mullen Sees 'Stalemate' in Libya

The conflict in Libya is “certainly moving towards a stalemate,” the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff told US troops in Baghdad today, adding that there were some reasons for optimism. “We’ve attrited somewhere between 30% and 40% of his ground forces,” Admiral Mike Mullen said, according to Reuters. “Those will continue to go away over time.” Mullen also added that al-Qaeda hasn’t made a peep in Libya.

"We're watchful of it, mindful of it and I just haven't seen much of it at all," Mullen said. "In fact, I've seen no al-Qaeda representation there at all." In other Libya news, John McCain visited Benghazi today, and praised Libya's rebels as his "heroes." McCain said he was there "to get an on-the-ground assessment of the situation" and planned to meet with the rebel National Transition Council, the de facto government in the eastern half of the country, and members of the rebel military, reports the AP. (More Adm. Mike Mullen stories.)