Friday, July 2, 2010

"The Afghan War is Unwinnable" --Reps. Obey and Slaughter, in charge of the war funding vote

From the Washington Post:
...frustration with the war is so widespread that two lawmakers in charge of shepherding the bill through the House, Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wisc.) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), who heads the Rules Committee that establishes the procedures for votes on legislation, both said that the war is unwinnable and that they were merely fulfilling their duties as committee chairs in moving the funding toward a vote.   "If I had my way, I would never bring this to the floor," said Obey, whose committee presents spending bills to the broader House. "I believe this is a fool's errand."
... The funding bill, which passed by a vote of 215-210, would allocate money for equipment and support to troops in both countries, including the additional 30,000 Obama ordered there last December. The Senate must still approve the legislation, totaling about $80 billion. 
... Ninety-three Democrats, along with seven Republicans, backed an even more restrictive amendment from Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) that would allow the war funds to be spent only on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. 
... "To me, the interesting thing about the Rolling Stone article was not about McChrystal, it was the general sense we'll never know what success looks like," said Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) who voted for the McGovern and Lee resolutions. "I'm not sure we will ever know we are winning."

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