Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Thursday became the latest US legislator to express concern about the war in Afghanistan, by saying there was little support for sending more troops .

Ms Pelosi’s comments, ahead of an anticipated request for more resources by General Stanley McChrystal, the Nato and US commander in Afghanistan, underline the unease among US Democrats about ramping up the war effort. In deciding how to respond to such a request, President Barack Obama, will have to balance his own judgment with mounting concern among his own supporters and calls from prominent Republicans, such as Senator John McCain, for the dispatch of more troops.