June 15, U.S. Central Command David Petraeus at Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to testify on the progress of the Afghan war, suddenly collapsed and had to postpone the hearing. His spokesman said that General Petraeus does not cause illness, collapsed and is due to dehydration and jet lag. This is the March 11, 2010 photo taken of information Petraeus. Xinhua / AFP
U.S. President Barack Obama, and last year ordered more troops to Afghanistan in July 2011 made the U.S. military began to withdraw from Afghanistan. However, the recent foreign troops in Afghanistan fighting flow, and caused some members of Congress questioned whether Obama's strategy for Afghanistan "on the right track."
Fendi SunglassesIn the 15 congressional hearing, Mr I am surrounded by words, the military difficult to answer. Meanwhile, Senator John McCain a question even the U.S. Central Command David Petraeus, "asked back" in the seat on.
Members questioned
15 on the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on progress of the war in Afghanistan, Petraeus and other U.S. military officials to testify.
Military members of the Committee John McCain said at the hearing, the war in Afghanistan now is to "bad direction," "may signal a crisis was to come."
"I am concerned about our military operations in Afghanistan," he said.
McCain is not the only one pair of worried about the situation in Afghanistan, members of Congress. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer the day that the U.S. military in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, the action flow, causing more and more members of Congress worried.
"I think a lot of people worried about the situation in Afghanistan. But we do not say this concern," Hoyer said, "Unlike the development of the local situation as well I imagine. We have just heard that the war will not wishing to Kandahar as speedy conclusion. "
As a Democrat, Steny Hoyer did not forget Obama's strategic defense. According to his statement, the United States has achieved in Afghanistan and Pakistan "major success", effective against the Taliban militants and the "base" organization.
But Hoyer also admitted that the victory not enough to dispel these doubts. He told reporters: "For what you asked, 'discussion on the situation in Afghanistan is to increase' the problem, I think the answer is yes."
Military response
The face of members of Congress questioned the Pentagon press secretary Jeff Morrell replied: "We understand the situation in Afghanistan some progress, such as the Force casualties increased and so, may lead to worry. But people must realize that we have previously Jing Gao that this war will become difficult before becomes easy. "
Foreign troops in Afghanistan now are in the pipeline in southern Afghanistan, the implementation of large-scale military operation to suppress the local Taliban. But the Pentagon earlier warned that military action against suffered more than expected.
Ferragamo Sunglasses "Helmand province and Kandahar provinces are important, but they are not all of Afghanistan," Morrell said, "Many regional security situation is improving, people's lives are getting better."
Some senior U.S. military officials say they want to be confirmed next summer whether Obama's strategy for Afghanistan to succeed.
"This is war, not a political movement," Reuters quoted one official as saying, "(the media and Congress) the negative attitude of exaggerated. The situation in parts of Afghanistan is not good."
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week that Obama last December ordered the troop increase, the effect of this decision has just appeared.
In 15 hearing, when McCain asked Petraeus whether the U.S. troops in Afghanistan next year in July as planned commencement of the withdrawal, the latter said: "I support the President's policies ...... but for specific time We have to very careful. "
Deputy Minister of Defense for Policy Michelle Fu Lunu Watt said: "We have started to regain the initiative, armed officers will gradually lose momentum."
General syncope
Will also happen the day of hearing a small episode. Petraeus answering a question after McCain suddenly collapsed and had to leave the rest.
Associated Press, McCain was being spoken Petraeus suddenly lying down on the table. Petraeus hearing together with military officials immediately go see his situation around. After a few seconds, Petraeus looked up, though looks are still some dizziness, but he got up and left the venue.
Petraeus's spokesman Ailikegang Hoss said Petraeus to eat something in another room, drink some water, received a medical examination.
About 20 minutes later, Petraeus returned to the venue. He explained that time, she felt dizzy. He also did not forget to open a joke, said he collapsed not because of "Senator McCain question."
While Petraeus is not right, but the Senate Armed Services Committee decided to suspend the main Xikaerlai day hearing the text, choose Day reopened.
Gang Huss said Petraeus just returning to, he collapsed and could collapse due to failure to adapt to jet lag.
Givenchy SunglassesLater in the day, Obama call sympathy Petraeus. Dayton said White House spokesman Bilbo, Petraeus's voice "sounds good."
Casualties increase
Although Pentagon officials insisted that coalition forces had the upper hand in Afghanistan, but the fact is that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, casualties are increasing. 14, five NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
The Associated Press reported that five dead, including three British soldiers. One, two British soldiers killed in Helmand province, while another soldier died of wounds suffered a few days ago. The remaining two were from the United States and Poland.
Together with the five dead soldiers, Security Assistance Force, the number of deaths has risen to 44 this month, including 27 U.S. soldiers. According to the Associated Press saying, according to this trend continues, the number of deaths this month, NATO forces in Afghanistan in 2001 may break the monthly death toll since the war record.
NATO troops in Afghanistan, the largest monthly death toll was in July 2009, when 75 soldiers were killed. For the U.S., the most "bloody" of the month is October 2009, when 59 U.S. soldiers killed in action.
Since the war in Afghanistan began, more than 1,000 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan.