Chairman Asks Troops to Prepare for Hardships: WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2001 -- Fighting terrorism is the most important thing America's armed forces have been asked to do since World War II, the military's top officer said. "Everything else, at least for the next couple of years, will probably pale in comparison to efficiently and effectively carrying out the orders that the president of the United States has given us," said Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard Myers. Myers, in an American Forces Radio and Television Service interview to be broadcast to U.S. forces overseas, said he's counting on troops to stay focused on their missions and to take care of themselves and their comrades. He warned that America is entering a whole new era of military engagement and that service members should be prepared for long tours of duty away from home.