Obama confronts division, doubts on his Afghan decision

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is confronting divisions and doubts on his decision to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan as he is trying to sell his new Afghan strategy to the U.S. Congress and the general public.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State  Hillary Rodham Clinton and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman  Adm. Mike Mullen (L-R) testify at a House of Representatives  Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Afghanistan war on  Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the U.S., Dec.  2, 2009. Gates said during his testimony on Wednesday that  "failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover" and  it would "have severe consequences for the United States and  the world." (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)

DEMOCRATS SHARPLY DIVIDED

There are sharp disagreement among members of Obama's own Democratic party, which indicates potential political trouble for the president.

Some Democratic lawmakers applauded the decision, which calls for sending 30,000 more U.S. forces to Afghanistan and starting pullout in July 2011.

"I am pleased that he made clear that our resources are not unlimited and our commitment is not open-ended. ... The president drew an essential distinction between his approach to the war and that of the previous administration," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada).

Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-North Carolina) said he was "encouraged" by the decision.

"With these additional troops, we can disrupt, dismantle and defeat the terrorists there that threaten all of us here at home," he said.

Calling it a "necessary step," Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-Louisiana) said, "I support the president's decision to send additional troops to Afghanistan and commend him for taking the time to get input from both his military and civilian advisers."

But others are not so convinced, offering a cautious note.