Afghanistan Withdrawal Bill Fails, but Message Rings

On Thursday March 17, the House failed to pass a bill urging President Obama to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Dec. 31, but the debate leading up to the vote suggested that lawmakers are growing impatient with the White House’s war strategy.

Eight Republican supported the latest anti-war resolution, which garnered a total of 93 yeas. “I voted for this war, but I sure didn’t vote for a 10-year war,” said Republican John Duncan, arguing that Obama needs to “stop rebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan and start rebuilding in the United States of America.”

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), was not expected to pass after a similar vote received only 65 votes in the House last year. However, policymakers in the Administration and Congress watched closely as the vote signaled waning support for the war among both parties. See how your Representative voted here.