Petraeus warns new surge progress will be slow

A top U.S. general is telling Congress that progress against the insurgency in Afghanistan probably will be slower than during the surge of American forces in Iraq two years ago.

Gen. David Petraeus (peh-TRAY'-uhs), who executed the Iraq surge in 2007, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday that he supports the escalation of US forces in Afghanistan.

Petraeus is commanding general of US Central Command, which has responsibility for overseeing US military activities in Central Asia — including Afghanistan and Pakistan — as well as the Middle East.