Democrats whine about military burden in Afghanistan

WSJ:

Top Obama administration officials Wednesday warned Congress about "severe consequences for the United States and the world" if a troop surge fails to halt a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

Democratic allies of President Barack Obama expressed fears that the U.S. is shouldering too much of the military burden as the administration tried to make its case in Congress a day after Mr. Obama announced he was sending an additional 30,000 American troops to Afghanistan, some as early as Christmas.

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"Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country and likely a renewed civil war," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Taliban-ruled areas could in short order become, once again, a sanctuary for al Qaeda as well as a staging area for resurgent militant groups on the offensive in Pakistan."

The insurgency already has gained "dominant influence" in 11 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also appeared with Adm. Mullen and Gates before the committee.

Committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin expressed serious misgivings about the troop escalation when the Afghan security force remains small and weak.

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Levin seems to lack any comprehension of military strategy or tactics. He is basically saying that because the Afghan army is small and weak we should allow the Taliban to win. That is as absurd as it sounds. The whining about the failure of others to provide resources does not sound like a party showing leadership. There is more on the testimony before Congress here.