Hearings have begun on Capitol Hill to ease congressional fears that the push in Afghanistan is progressing too slowly.

The present operation to take control of Kandahar has run into military and political setbacks. The region is the birthplace of the Taliban and continues to be a stronghold for insurgents.

The mission to take control of the city was supposed to start this month. However, Gen. Stanley McChrystal says it won't begin until September.

Lawmakers have been anxious about the Afghan war effort as President Barack Obama's July 2011 deadline to reduce U.S. troops in the region grows nearer.

"I am deeply concerned about our campaign in Afghanistan," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who supported Obama's plan of sending 30,000 additional U.S. forces announced in December.

"Many of the key trends seem to be heading in a bad direction, perhaps even signaling a mounting crisis," he said.