WASHINGTON — War-weary Democrats and Republicans on Thursday sent the strongest message yet to President Barack Obama to end the war in Afghanistan as he decides how many U.S. troops to withdraw this summer.
A measure requiring an accelerated timetable for pulling out the 100,000 troops from Afghanistan and an exit strategy for the nearly 10-year-old conflict secured 204 votes in the House, falling just short of passage but boosting the hopes of its surprised proponents.
“It sends a strong signal . . . that the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people want change,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.
Obama will begin drawing down some of the troops in July, with all combat forces due out by 2014. McGovern and others fear that the initial reduction will be a token cut of about 5,000.
A recent Associated Press-GfK poll found that 59 percent of the public opposes the war and 37 percent favors it, with significant support for Obama’s plan to start removing troops this summer.
Joining 178 Democrats in backing the measure were 26 Republicans. Eight Democrats and 207 Republicans opposed it.
Among its foes, Rep. Mike Coffman, an Aurora Republican, said the accelerated timetable “would pull the rug out of the entire strategy.”
The divisive issue was part of three days of debate on a broad, $690 billion defense bill that would provide a 1.6 percent increase in military pay; fund an array of aircraft, ships and submarines; and increase health care fees slightly for working-age military retirees.
