'Budget cuts could jeopardise Afghan mission'

The top US military commander in Afghanistan warned congressional budget-cutters on Wednesday that failure to adequately fund US civilians working alongside his forces could jeopardise President Barack Obama's war aims.
General David Petraeus, the head of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, told the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee he was concerned that cuts being considered to State Department, USAID and other programs could leave civilian workers unable to build on gains made by the military. Republicans who took control of the House this year are in a budget-slashing mood and have proposed some $2.2 billion in cuts to State Department and USAID economic support funds for 2011.