House Democratic Leadership Teams Up With Republicans To Keep US Troops in Afghanistan

Source: https://news.antiwar.com/2020/07/21/house-democratic-leadership-teams-up-with-republicans-to-keep-us-troops-in-afghanistan/
Published: Jul 22, 2020
Author: Eric Garris
Post Date: 2020-07-22 07:50:43 by Ada
Views: 714

By a vote of 284-129, the House of Representatives soundly defeated an amendment to establish a plan to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan. A slight plurality of Democrats supported the measure, with most of the leadership opposing. All Republicans except two voted in to oppose. Libertarian Justin Amash supported the measure. The amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was offered by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

President Trump declared in late May that he wanted to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan before the November election. Since that time, Democratic leaders have shifted to an even more hawkish position, pulling out all the stops to prevent such a move. Much of the foreign policy of the Democratic leadership has been driven by opposition to Trump’s positions, rather than by what is best for the country or what the American people desire.

American troops have been fighting in Afghanistan for 19 years, with no progress in reducing violence.

This article was written while observing the voting on CSPAN. The House Clerk has not yet posted the roll-call vote. This will and any additional information will be added to the article when available.

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#1: randge    To: Ada (#0)

Wow. Strange bedfellows in this vote.

Some say it's DOPE (the persistent bane of civilization) that keeps us over there.

Others say it is geo-political and geo-strategic reasoning that requires large numbers of armed, uniformed Americans be stationed in Afghanistan.

Either way, it doesn't look good to me. Washington is closing the PRC Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas. Consulate employees were burning tons of paper last night in the consulate courtyard.

What is that smell? There is something perilous in the air.

randge posted on 2020-07-22 08:30:15   Reply   Private Reply

#2: Ada    To: randge (#1)

Israel likes for us to keep troops on both sides of Iran. What's actually going on inside Afghanistan and Iraq is irrelevant, except to whatever extent it can be used or crafted to explain the "need" to stay there.

IOW doesn't look like we will ever leave

Ada posted on 2020-07-22 10:41:28   Reply   Private Reply

#3: randge    To: Ada (#2)

IOW doesn't look like we will ever leave

I get that sentiment.

But forever is a long time.

randge posted on 2020-07-23 08:27:39   Reply   Private Reply

#4: BTP Holdings    To: Ada (#2)

Afghanistan

The Khyber Pass is part of the old Silk Road. ;)

BTP Holdings posted on 2020-07-23 08:42:33   Reply   Private Reply

#5: Ada    To: BTP Holdings (#4)

I've been through the Khyber Pass. While high, its not the top of the world. I could understand Pakistan and India fighting over it.

Ada posted on 2020-07-23 11:21:40   Reply   Private Reply