.House Rejects Plan to Leave Afghanistan by Year’s End
WASHINGTON — In a strong bipartisan endorsement of the Obama administration’s policy in Afghanistan, the House of Representatives on Wednesday soundly rejected a call to withdraw American troops by the end of the year.
After a three-hour debate held to allow antiwar Democrats to air their dissent, the House voted 356 to 65 to reject the withdrawal proposal. Five Republicans joined 60 Democrats in support of pulling out; 189 Democrats and 167 Republicans were opposed.
Although the outcome was never in doubt, debate on the resolution written by Representative Dennis J. Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, offered a preview of Congressional consideration later this year of the administration’s request for money to pay for operations in Afghanistan.
Under the proposal, Mr. Kucinich would have invoked the War Powers Act to force the withdrawal of American troops within 30 days, or by the end of the year if the president judged that a more rapid departure would be unsafe.
The plan’s supporters contended that the United States was aiding a corrupt government in Afghanistan and siphoning scarce resources for the sake of an unwinnable conflict when there were greater needs at home.
“Is the cost of this war worth it?” asked Representative Chellie Pingree, Democrat of Maine. “Can we afford to turn our backs on the challenges we face at home and continue to pursue failed policies abroad?”
But a broad coalition of Democrats and Republicans contended that American troops were making progress in Afghanistan and that an abrupt withdrawal would create an opening for the Taliban to return to power and allow Afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists again.
“Passing this resolution guarantees failure in Afghanistan and poses a serious risk that we will once again face the same situation that existed on Sept. 11,” said Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Others said that the timing of the resolution was inappropriate given the American offensive around Marja in southern Afghanistan and that it sent the wrong message to troops in the field as well as to their families in the United States.
“It is a resolution that is hurtful to our troops on the ground fighting and it is hurtful to their families,” said Representative Duncan D. Hunter, a California Republican who served in Afghanistan as a Marine.
Democratic leaders said it was Congress’s responsibility to allow lawmakers the chance to exchange views on the war because Congress provided the money for operations that have claimed the lives of slightly more than 1,000 American military members.
“This issue needs to be raised,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland and the majority leader, who opposed the resolution.
The back-and-forth was the first opportunity for lawmakers to weigh in on Afghanistan policy since President Obama’s December announcement of his plans to add 30,000 troops before a drawdown of forces in 2011.
The administration’s decision has frustrated elements of Mr. Obama’s own party who saw Democratic election victories in 2008 as a sign that the public wanted to wind down military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite Wednesday’s vote, Democrats are likely to give the administration’s financing request careful scrutiny when it arrives sometime in the spring.
Showing the conflicting views over the war, even some Democrats who opposed the pullout suggested that the effort in Afghanistan was misguided, given centuries of failed interventions in Afghanistan by foreign powers. “History suggests we will not be successful in stabilizing Afghanistan with military force,” said Representative Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon.
Opponents of the withdrawal said pulling out would lead to renewed oppression of the Afghan people by the Taliban. “It would mean the return of nightmarish tyranny to Afghanistan,” said Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida.
NYT
After a three-hour debate held to allow antiwar Democrats to air their dissent, the House voted 356 to 65 to reject the withdrawal proposal. Five Republicans joined 60 Democrats in support of pulling out; 189 Democrats and 167 Republicans were opposed.
Although the outcome was never in doubt, debate on the resolution written by Representative Dennis J. Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, offered a preview of Congressional consideration later this year of the administration’s request for money to pay for operations in Afghanistan.
Under the proposal, Mr. Kucinich would have invoked the War Powers Act to force the withdrawal of American troops within 30 days, or by the end of the year if the president judged that a more rapid departure would be unsafe.
The plan’s supporters contended that the United States was aiding a corrupt government in Afghanistan and siphoning scarce resources for the sake of an unwinnable conflict when there were greater needs at home.
“Is the cost of this war worth it?” asked Representative Chellie Pingree, Democrat of Maine. “Can we afford to turn our backs on the challenges we face at home and continue to pursue failed policies abroad?”
But a broad coalition of Democrats and Republicans contended that American troops were making progress in Afghanistan and that an abrupt withdrawal would create an opening for the Taliban to return to power and allow Afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists again.
“Passing this resolution guarantees failure in Afghanistan and poses a serious risk that we will once again face the same situation that existed on Sept. 11,” said Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Others said that the timing of the resolution was inappropriate given the American offensive around Marja in southern Afghanistan and that it sent the wrong message to troops in the field as well as to their families in the United States.
“It is a resolution that is hurtful to our troops on the ground fighting and it is hurtful to their families,” said Representative Duncan D. Hunter, a California Republican who served in Afghanistan as a Marine.
Democratic leaders said it was Congress’s responsibility to allow lawmakers the chance to exchange views on the war because Congress provided the money for operations that have claimed the lives of slightly more than 1,000 American military members.
“This issue needs to be raised,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland and the majority leader, who opposed the resolution.
The back-and-forth was the first opportunity for lawmakers to weigh in on Afghanistan policy since President Obama’s December announcement of his plans to add 30,000 troops before a drawdown of forces in 2011.
The administration’s decision has frustrated elements of Mr. Obama’s own party who saw Democratic election victories in 2008 as a sign that the public wanted to wind down military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite Wednesday’s vote, Democrats are likely to give the administration’s financing request careful scrutiny when it arrives sometime in the spring.
Showing the conflicting views over the war, even some Democrats who opposed the pullout suggested that the effort in Afghanistan was misguided, given centuries of failed interventions in Afghanistan by foreign powers. “History suggests we will not be successful in stabilizing Afghanistan with military force,” said Representative Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon.
Opponents of the withdrawal said pulling out would lead to renewed oppression of the Afghan people by the Taliban. “It would mean the return of nightmarish tyranny to Afghanistan,” said Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida.
NYT
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