WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The security situation is continuing to deteriorate in Afghanistan, the U.S. spy chief told Senators on Tuesday.

    Being asked about whether U.S. is losing the war in Afghanistan during a testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair didn't answer directly, but said the situation there "is decreasing, and that isa bad trend."

    Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, the Defense Intelligence Agency director, echoed Blair's pessimistic view on Afghanistan at the hearing, saying Afghanistan's problems are likely to get worse as Afghanistan prepares for presidential elections this year.

    Senators were anxious to learn when U.S. President Barack Obama will unveil a new strategic plan to reverse the trend in Afghanistan.

    When Senator John McCain pressed him on the issue, Blair said he wasn't sure.

    "I can only say the president is more impatient than you are," he said.

    Obama last month decided to send 17,000 additional U.S. combat and support troops to Afghanistan to help to stabilize the situation there, but a complete review of Afghan strategy hasn't been finished.