Skelton "Greatly Troubled" By Problems with Combat Gear

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton has written top Pentagon leaders that he's "greatly troubled" by stories from soldiers in war zones about improper training and the lack of suitable combat gear.

The Associated Press writes: "Soldiers are being issued a rucksack made of plastic that is not comfortable or effective in combat situations, Skelton and Ortiz found during a recent trip to Germany and Italy where they met with members of the 503rd Infantry Regiment and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team."

ALSO: "Skelton and Ortiz said many of the soldiers they talked to are using their own money to buy better packs from commercial suppliers."

AND: The lawmakers said they were told troops are being taken straight from boot camp and being sent to Afghanistan and Iraq without extensive training at stateside bases. "Is this a common practice now"? Skelton asks. "And will the upcoming surge into Afghanistan exacerbate this situation?"

***

MEANWHILE: Despite wishful thinking from Missouri Republicans, Skelton's spokesperson tells the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) the Democratic incumbent will seek another term.

PLUS: 4th District GOP candidate Vicky Hartzler sends a release criticizing Skelton's staff for "stonewalling" questions about about the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

"Now, gay rights champion Barney Frank of Massachusetts has said that next year’s defense authorizations bill, which Mr. Skelton will handle, will repeal ‘don’t ask/don’t tell.’ Our brave troops do not support this. When Barney Frank announced the deal, I challenged Mr. Skelton to tell us the facts. He stonewalled. Now, his taxpayer-financed staff refuses to answer media questions about Barney Frank’s statement on a bill that Ike Skelton will handle in the House," said Hartzler in a statement.

Skelton: Don't Compare Afghanistan to Iraq

"Measured Expectations"

House Armed Services Committee Chair Ike Skelton warned against comparing the president's decision to send more troops into Afghanistan to the infamous surge in Iraq.

"I do not think such comparisons are wise or fair," Skelton said as part of his opening statement before his committee Tuesday. "As a percentage of the forces on the ground, the increase ordered by President Obama is much larger than the increase in Iraq. And the fight in Afghanistan will be different in many important ways. Media articles citing General Petraeus yesterday suggested that he does not believe that progress in Afghanistan will not come as quickly as it did in Iraq. In the article, he suggested that we must be measured in our expectations. To me, this article highlights the need for commitment to accomplishing this mission, not just from the President, but from Congress and the American people. I hope that this hearing can help build that sense of support and commitment.

Skelton added that while he does not have any doubt about about the need to succeed in Afghanistan, he does have several questions about the strategy, including:

• What do we believe must be accomplished in the next 18 months?
• What risks are we accepting in the next 18 months and how can we mitigate them?
• How will we convince the Pakistanis that their interests lie with us?
• How will we measure progress over time?

***

During the hearing, Gen. Stanley McChrystal told the committee he believes the Taliban could be "rolled back." When asked directly by Skelton about the chances of success, McChrystal responded, "I believe we will absolutely be successful."

Carnahan Supports Obama's Afghan Strategy

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Robin Carnahan threw her support behind President Obama's Afghanistan strategy Wednesday morning.

Carnahan said she supported the president's decision to boost troop levels, but did not address the July 2011 timetable set that has come under criticism from Republicans.

"The failure to focus on Afghanistan for the past several years has created a difficult and dangerous situation. I support the decision by the President and his national security team to increase our troop levels in Afghanistan and I am encouraged that the strategy is receiving bipartisan support," said Carnahan in a statement released Wednesday morning.

"We must protect our nation from future attacks by stabilizing Afghanistan and the region so that it is not a safe haven for terrorists and is eventually responsible for its own security. It's vital that there be clear benchmarks, strict oversight and that our troops have the tools they need to succeed and ultimately return home safely. I recognize the additional burden this places on our military and their families, and all Americans are deeply in the debt of those who serve our nation so bravely and with so much selfless dedication," Carnahan added.

Her likely 2010 U.S. Senate opponent Roy Blunt said he supported a troop increase but added that Obama's timetable could undermine the goal of the mission.

Missouri Pols React Cautiously to Obama Surge Plan

REPUBLICANS EMBRACE SURGE, CRITICIZE TIMETABLE

MCCASKILL: "THOUGHTFUL STRATEGY"

SKELTON HAS QUESTIONS

*GET MORE KEY QUOTES HERE*

Missouri's leading Republicans praised President Obama's call to infuse Afghanistan with 30,000 additional troops but contended a timetable for withdrawal could undermine the goal of the mission.

The president said the troops would deploy in early 2010, but also allow the United States "to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011."

"It will be clear to the Afghan government – and, more importantly, to the Afghan people – that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country," Obama said.

That's where Republicans are breaking with the president.

"I am encouraged that the President has renewed his commitment to the strategy he outlined in March, a strategy that will allow our troops to return on success and put Afghanistan on the road to stability," said Sen. Kit Bond, who was briefed before the president's speech.

In a separate statement obtained by the Associated Press, Bond said more troops would've been better, "but this is what the president has recommended and that's what we'll support."

But the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee quickly added, "We need a success strategy, not an exit strategy." According to Foreign Policy's blog, Bond made his concerns clear to the president in their meeting.

Bond's concern, that emphasizing the exit strategy will send the wrong message to U.S. allies and enemies, was echoed by Congressman Roy Blunt.

"The president tonight tried to walk a line between the political views of those who are ready to give up on the war in Afghanistan, and the real-world needs of both our troops on the ground and the Afghan people, all of whom need to have confidence that the U.S. is there to get the job done," Blunt said.

"While I’m pleased that he will take steps toward adopting General McChrystal’s troop level recommendations, setting a published timetable while announcing a troop increase will satisfy neither of those groups," Blunt added.

Blunt's likely U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan's spokesman did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking reaction.

GOP Congressional candidate Ed Martin, who is waging a bid against Democrat Russ Carnahan, said Obama's "indecisiveness will be viewed by history as endangering our troops and for not furthering national security interests."

But the president is also facing opposition from the left, many who are skeptical that a troop surge will do much to solve the military and political problems on the ground. But that pressure is not coming from Missouri's prominent Democrats.

Several Senators, including Sen. Claire McCaskill, expressed skepticism about a proposed war surtax to pay for the military effort.

"I can't tell right now if it's a serious proposal, or just one that's been thrown out," McCaskill said to The Hill. "It's too early to judge whether it's serious."

In a carefully worded statement, McCaskill called Obama's approach "thoughtful" without fully endorsing it. She also said she would be looking closely at benchmarks for the new strategy.

"We cannot continue to allow the Taliban or Al Qaeda to gain ground in Afghanistan and therefore the Commander in Chief should be commended for establishing a thoughtful strategy that acknowledges that the war in Afghanistan is not a war of choice," McCaskill said.

"I will be looking closely at the benchmarks being set for this new strategy, including ensuring our allies and the Afghans are stepping up to do their part and that we are expending our nation’s resources responsibly," she added.

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who repeatedly encouraged the president to embrace a strategy with new troops, said he still had questions.

"I have a number of questions to which I hope we can get answers--for example, the role of Pakistan, how specifically we will measure progress over time, what additional resources we will need on the civilian side of the effort, how we will manage strain on our forces, and how we expect the government of Afghanistan to be reformed," said Rep. Ike Skelton.

Skelton: Flawed Afghan Election Shows Need For Reform

Congressman Ike Skelton continued to push President Obama to embrace General Stanley McChrystal's counter insurgency strategy in Afghanistan and said the recent flawed election reinforced the need for reforms in the unstable country.

FULL SKELTON STATEMENT:

"Although the election in Afghanistan was deeply flawed and filled with uncertainty, we now have an outcome and can begin to move forward. The legitimacy and efficacy of the Afghan government are critical for our efforts there as well as for their own future, and it is imperative that President Karzai work quickly to address these points. President Karzai should make a compact, with input from the Afghan people, about improving effective governance and eliminating corruption within the national government. Once the people of Afghanistan have decided what is important to them, the U.S. and international community should both help support those efforts and help hold the Karzai government accountable for his promises.

"I continue to believe that General McChrystal's counter insurgency plan is the right approach, including his call to build capability at the local level. The recent flawed election process has reinforced the need to also push for the reform of the national Afghan government, to increase legitimacy and help build a capable partner for our efforts in Afghanistan. Pursuing al Qaeda and ensuring that its members can't use Afghanistan as a safe haven is a vital national security interest for the U.S., and a minimally functioning and legitimate Afghan government is an important part of that effort."

MSNBC notes that Skelton's comments echoed the words of Republican Minority Leader John Boehner on the issue.

President Obama spoke with Hamid Karzai for about 10 minutes Monday and told the president he needs to improve his efforts towards reform.
***
ALSO: 7th District Candidate Wardell Weighs In
OBAMA 'EMBOLDENING' TERRORISTS

"The president's indecisiveness, ostensibly because he was awaiting the Afghan presidential election result, is only emboldening the terrorists and further endangering our young men and women in harm's way," said Michael Wardell in a statement. "Our soldiers and Marines have not wavered in places like Helmand province and the president should not waver in executing his duties as Commander-In-Chief. I am appalled at the manner in which this president chooses to lead."

Bond to Obama: No More Excuses

Sen. Kit Bond said progress towards resolving Afghanistan's disputed presidential election should prompt President Obama to make a decision on sending more troops to the country.

President Hamid Karzai has agreed to a runoff election after a commission found that Karzai had not garnered 50% of the valid votes cast back in August.

"The clear message for the President is 'no more excuses'," Bond said in a statement.

"Delay leads to defeat, not victory; it’s critical for the Commander-in-Chief to support his commander-on-the-ground now," he said.

But despite Karazi's announcement, a "resolution" to the Afghan election is far from clear. A runoff is set for Nov. 7th, but there's no guarantee there won't be more problems or a fair election.

"Unbelievably, the Obama Administration is still calling a decision on whether to support General McChrystal’s winning strategy for Afghanistan weeks away," Bond's statement reads. Bond said in addition to the delay on the decision, the lack of resolve in Washington is a "public diplomacy disaster."

"The wavering in Washington is disheartening American troops, demoralizing the people of Afghanistan, and emboldening our terrorist enemies," said Bond.

Bond: Obama Won't Return to Counter Terror Approach

Sen. Kit Bond dishes to The Cable about insider details on Tuesday's strategy meeting about Afghanistan at the White House.

From the post: The meeting was heavy on strategy, light on specifics, and generally had a positive and bipartisan tone, Bond reports. His main takeaway was that Obama pledged not to return to a counterterrorism approach, where troops "shoot and then fall back to the base," Bond said.

Obama told the lawmakers that "nobody on his team was proposing that," Bond reported, which lawmakers took to mean that the president was leaning toward a strategy heavily focused on counterinsurgency, which is of course more manpower intensive.

Read it ALL HERE.

ALSO: Obama made no commitment of 40,000 new troops, but said additional funding would need to be approved quickly by Congress if he chooses that route.

The President called a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders to the White House Tuesday to review Afghanistan policy.

Blunt: McChrystal Should Testify

Congressman Roy Blunt has called on the Obama administration to allow General Stanley McChrystal to testify before Congress about his strategy for Afghanistan.

But Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said McChrystal should not go to the Hill before President Obama decides on a new policy.

"Six months ago President Obama appropriately called for a full review of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. The president called on one of our nation’s most talented commanders, General Stanley McChrystal, to deliver an assessment of what should be done there. General McChrystal has done just that, yet we have no decision from the president," said Blunt in a statement.

Blunt noted that in 2007, General David Patraeus spoke to Congress weeks before his surge strategy was implemented in Iraq. "I would welcome the same opportunity to hear from General McChrystal about his plans to succeed in Afghanistan. If he can do ‘Sixty Minutes,’ he can update Congress," Blunt said.

AND: A key Democrat is siding with Blunt . . . Minority Leader Steny Hoyer has said he wants to hear from General McChrystal. "I continue to believe and recommend that General McChrystal -- at some point in time in the relatively near future, before we make a determination as to what we should do -- testify before the Congress, and brief the Congress. Perhaps in executive session, if that's necessary, but also testify before the Congress," he said.

***

LAST WEEK: By a vote of 59-40, the Senate rejected a GOP attempt to force top Army commanders to testify on Afghanistan policy.

Skelton Splits With Levin on Afghan Troop Surge

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee believes President Obama should send 40,000 more U.S. troops into Afghanistan but his counterpart in the U.S. Senate disagrees.

"He asked Gen. McChrystal for an assessment, and he got that assessment," Skelton said on CBS' Face The Nation Sunday. "I'm going to back him up."

Appearing on the same program, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin said he would not send more combat troops yet.

Skelton also said believed the Democratic controlled U.S. House would support the move. "I think the House would support the gentleman, Gen. McChrystal, who is running the show," he said.

"The war really didn’t start until March of this year when the president came forth with a strategy and frankly an excellent strategy. He chose General McChrystal who is the best in the business for this type of conflict," Skelton added.

Get VIDEO of Skelton's appearance HERE

North Says Losing Afghanistan Will Increase Risk Of Attack

Fresh back from a trip to Afghanistan, former Marine and current military commentator Oliver North said President Obama should deliver the troops requested by generals to win the war there.

He also offered a stark warning to Washington.

"They had better pay up when it comes to the resources necessary to win this war, because if we don't win this war, you and I and my kids and grandkids are going to be vulnerable to another attack like we saw on 9-11," said North.

North was in Springfield to speak and raise money for The Vitae Foundation, an anti-abortion group.

Sen. Kid Bond is more directly ramping up pressure on the president. "Negative and indecisive comments by the President, broadcast worldwide have now given the enemy a big win in the public information battle," Bond said.

*WATCH Q & A CLIPS ABOVE*

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

ABOVE: WATCH NORTH ADDRESS THE CURRENT STATE OF THE G.O.P.

Overestimates crowd size at 9-12 tea party in D.C. but says the movement "ought to be a message." (BTW: DC Authorities estimated between 60-75,000 unofficially -- A spokesperson later said they don't make official estimates.)

Also notes: Troops are rarely impacted by U.S. media and commentary on war policy.

"Troops are not at all focused on the politics," North said. "Very few of them . . . get to ever see television . . . Most of them don't see it."

Those comments seem to undercut the notion -- sometimes floated -- that critical media coverage of the war can hurt troop morale abroad.

Bond, Skelton Urging Action on Afghanistan

At a time when skepticism is growing about the country's longest war, Congressman Ike Skelton is the highest ranking Democrat in Congress to support sending more troops into Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Missouri's top serving elected official fears President Obama is going wobbly on his pledge for a build-up.
***
"After asking for General Stanley McChrystal’s Afghanistan assessment, it now appears President Obama has buyer's remorse," said Sen. Kit Bond. "Congress needs to hear directly from General McChrystal to ensure political motivations here in Washington don't override the needs of our commanders on the ground."

In a letter to the president, Skelton is also urging him to "waste no time in providing a clear direction" on the Afghan front.

"I am convinced that there is no strategy short of a properly-resourced counter-insurgency campaign that is likely to provide lasting security. But, time is not on our side. Coming from Harry Truman country, I ask myself, ‘What would Harry Truman do?’ And this leads me to urge you to waste no time in providing a clear direction to our commanders and civilian leaders, along with the resources necessary to achieve their mission—and to do so with an understanding that the American and Afghan people, as well as our allies, must see progress in the next 12 months," wrote Skelton in a letter to the president.

Bond wants McChrystal to testify before Congress because he believes the Obama administration has delayed the general's request for more troops. Skelton wrote that he believes McChrystal has "the right plan."

In his letter, Skelton advocates a counter-insurgent strategy: "Carrying out a real population-protection counter-insurgency plan – is not without risks and costs, and victory is not guaranteed . . . Undertaking a counter-insurgency campaign is complex, and it will require additional resources, both civilian and military, and hopefully not all from the United States."

"But we should not conclude yet that all is hopeless – it is not, and I believe the team you recently sent to Kabul, General McChrystal and Ambassador Eikenberry, would agree. We must not refuse to give this stellar team the time and resources it needs to succeed," Skelton said.
***
THE PENTAGON has said General McChrystal likely won't be wading into the political debate over troops just yet -- and will instead be focusing on managing the war on the ground.

Ike Is Top Obama Ally on Afghanistan

Congressman Ike Skelton has quickly become one of President Obama's top allies and advocate for continuing the mission in Afghanistan and sending additional combat troops.

"It's a tough fight," said Skelton, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, after emerging from a closed door meeting with the White House about benchmarks in Afghanistan.

"But this is a true national security effort, and that's why we need a way to show progress toward a solid outcome," Skelton continued in an interview with the New York Times.

Skelton also seems inclined to support whatever amount of troops that General Stanley McChrystal ultimately requests. "I want to underline the fact that this is a matter of national security. We ought to listen to General McChrystal, and I’m of the opinion to give him what he needs."

"We need to give the general and our military and civilian counterparts time necessary to show that progress is being made," Skelton told the Associated Press. "We actually have a strategy that, if given time and resources and good leaders, which I know we have, we'll have a solid conclusion."

PLUS: PERUSE IKE'S RECOMMENDED READING LIST HERE

Bill Kristol: Obama Should Look To Ike On Afghan War

The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol writes that President Obama should look to Congressman Ike Skelton for advice on how to proceed in Afghanistan.

The suggestion, of course, comes because Skelton's position lines up with the neo-conservative commentator's.

"Of course this wing of the Democratic party--the dominant McGovern-Carter wing--has been wrong about just about everything in foreign policy over the last three decades. So maybe President Obama should look for guidance to another kind of Democrat. House Armed Services chairman Ike Skelton would be a good choice," Kristol writes. "He is a 77-year-old Missourian in the Harry Truman tradition (indeed, his father was a good friend of Truman's). Last week, on the eve of the anniversary of 9/11, Skelton put out a statement titled "Americans Must Not Forget Why We Are In Afghanistan," he continues.

"Skelton reminded the president that "Now is not the time to lose our resolve. We must give our forces the time and resources they need to show progress in the fight against the enemies responsible for the attacks of 9/11," Kristol goes on.

He slso states, "The president must understand that this war is eminently winnable."

Nixon Spent 2 Days in Afghanistan; Will Return to Missouri Wednesday

The Governor's office announced Tuesday that Gov. Jay Nixon has spent the last two days in Afghanistan visiting Missouri troops and will return to the state Wednesday night.

***

Nixon, along with Governors from four other states, were in Germany late Tuesday to tour the U.S. military hospital at Landstuhl. That is expected to be the final stop on the tour that began in Iraq and Kuwait.

"I am extremely proud of the dedication, professionalism and tenacity I saw in every Missourian I met during my visit, and I have every confidence these tireless heroes will accomplish their mission and bring security and stability to Afghanistan and the region," Nixon said in a statement.

Missouri currently has an Agricultural Development Team and a Military Police Company stationed in Afghanistan. Nixon visited with the approximately 60 National Guard soldiers currently deployed with the Agricultural team. Missouri's National Guard was the first in the nation to deploy such an agricultural team in 2007. The team's goal is to ensure a safe and reliable food supply to aid Afghanistan's recovery, according to Nixon. The team also works to improve irrigation, fertilizing, planting, harvesting and storing agricultural products throughout the Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan.

"These Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen are helping local farmers and producers with projects that include planting and harvesting grain and other projects; implementing modern agricultural methods to increase crop yields; canning and juicing fruits and vegetables in a safe and reliable manner; developing and constructing irrigation systems; and enhancing sanitation and storage of meats. These efforts help demonstrate that Afghan farmers can produce successful crops without growing poppies used in opium production," reads a release from the Governor's office.

Bond: Military Moving Too Slowly on New Humvees

Sen. Kit Bond is worried that the military is moving too slow to get new armored Humvees to Afghanistan.

USA TODAY reports that in August, commanders in Afghanistan asked for about 370 of the new all-terrain versions of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle to deal with the country's rugged roads and terrain. That request topped 4,000 in November.

Bond, an early backer of the vehicles, said, "I'm not yet convinced that the military has learned the the tragic lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan — our enemy will continue to search for ways to kill our troops and our acquisition process must be flexible enough to respond quickly to emerging threats."

Defending Waterboarding & Bucking Blunt

WISDOM CARVES A DIFFERENT PATH

Republican congressional candidate Jeff Wisdom clearly separated himself from Rep. Roy Blunt on the day he launched his campaign. He candidly said he would carve a different path than Blunt in Washington and added that he doesn't think the average 7th District citizen feels like they've been represented the past 12 years.

*WATCH IT ABOVE*

"My intention is not to go there and spend the next 20 to 30 years of my life," Wisdom said, though he stopped short of taking a term limit pledge. "I believe that that limits democracy."

ON BLUNT:
"I believe Roy Blunt went to Washington D.C. and became part of the problem in Washington D.C. I think that he became beholden to a lot of special interests and I don't intend for that to happen . . . I just believe Roy Blunt became part of the establishment, and I don't want to be part of the establishment."



In the second clip, Wisdom backs waterboarding as an "effective tactic to gain information from detainees."

"I believe that we have gathered some very good information that likely prevented terrorist attacks on our soil through waterboarding," Wisdom said.

BUT critics have said there's no evidence waterboarding has ever worked:

"If there was an instance that these interrogations lead directly to the savings of lives and they could prove it, this information would be leaked by now," said former CIA officer Bob Baer on Hardball Wednesday night.

Wisdom served for a year in Iraq as part of the Navy Reserve.

He said he worries about a hasty pull-out in Iraq, but backs President Obama's policy to send more troops to Afghanistan.

*FULL CLIP ABOVE*

Bond: U.S. Doesn't Have Winning Strategy in Afghanistan

Just back from his week-long trip to South Asia, Missouri's senior Senator Kit Bond says he sees "no comprehensive strategy" for the United States to win in Afghanistan.

"Let me be blunt – the United States is not currently implementing a winning strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. We have many people on the ground doing good things on their own, but there is no comprehensive strategy weaving their efforts together into a successful mission and ensuring that they operate with economies of force," said Bond in a statement.

Bond, in part, blames NATO, but adds that the U.S. needs clearly defined goals.

He's making the following recommendations:

• President-elect Obama should appoint a new Washington-based coordinator for all efforts in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
• Increase U.S. engagement with Pakistan and their Intelligence leaders
• Find ways to engage local Afghan leaders, like teaching farmers how to grow a sustainable, profitable crop besides poppies. He noted the efforts of the Missouri National Guard Agriculture Development team, which is teaching Afghans skill they need to grow alternative crops.
• Develop a strategic communication plan to win the propaganda war. Bond says during his trip he heard from Pakistani reporters convinced that a U.S. drone had executed an attack the day he was in Pakistan and assumed there must be collateral damage. According to Bond, no such attack occurred. The "story" was spread by Taliban leaders.

Blunt: Separating War Funding "Offensive"

Rep. Roy Blunt is blasting the notion of separating Afghanistan and Iraq funding in the upcoming war supplemental bill.

He called the idea "unsustainable" and "offensive." "It will be offensive to think we are going to support our troops in Afghanistan in some different way than we are our troops in Iraq," said Blunt.

"It's a bad idea and it's an idea that probably never gets out of the Appropriations Committee." The President's $108 billion dollar request should hit the House floor by late April or early May.

McCaskill Urges Gates To Change Leave Policy

Sen. Claire McCaskill is asking Secretary of Defense Bob Gates to establish a "single, equitable policy" on post-birth deployment deferment for military moms.

McCaskill is calling on Gates to prioritize "medical, including psychological, considerations of the mother and newborn child."

The Washington Post recently reported that the Army affords new mothers the shortest post-birth deferment from deployment.

“Our military needs today’s heroic women servicemembers. We cannot afford to maintain policies that penalize them in an area as sensitive as newborn infant care, nor in other facets of their careers, less we lose the ability both to retain these heroes and recruit new ones," McCaskill said.

Read the full Washington Post story HERE.

"The Forgotten War" in Afghanistan

Rep. Skelton Concerned About Troop Levels

At a Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday, Rep. Ike Skelton expressed concern about the rise in violence in Afghanistan and called it "the forgotten war."

"I have a real concern that given our preoccupation in Iraq, we have not devoted sufficient troops and funding to Afghanistan to ensure the success of that mission," said Skelton, the chairman of the House committee.

"Afghanistan has been the forgotten war," he added.

But the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took issue with that description.

"I understand the sentiment but it is not forgotten, sir -- not by me and not by any of the Joint Chiefs," Adm. Mike Mullen said.

In opening remarks at the hearing Skelton also said NATO allies must do more to help in Afghanistan. Skelton said U.S. intelligence agencies have cautioned that if current trends hold, the Afghanistan campaign faces the risk of "a looming strategic failure."