http://news.antiwar.com/2012/05/17/obama-asking-for-help-funding-afghan-army/
Part of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan was to build up an independent Afghan army so carry on policing the country after most of the 130,000 foreign troops leave in 2014. That mission has failed miserably, but the Obama administration thinks that with money donations from other countries, some face can be saved.
In a vote of 303-113, Congressmen secured the continuation of the occupation through FY2014, despite polls showing overwhelming public opposition to the war. Rep. Lee insisted that “the American people are far ahead of Congress” on the question.
Obama Asking for Help Funding Afghan Army
About 60 countries and organizations are being asked to foot the bill for America's failed war
by John Glaser, May 17, 2012
In trying to weasel their way out of a failed, unpopular war, the Obama administration has realized it can’t continue nation-building in Afghanistan all on its own. So they’re asking for help.
Part of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan was to build up an independent Afghan army so carry on policing the country after most of the 130,000 foreign troops leave in 2014. That mission has failed miserably, but the Obama administration thinks that with money donations from other countries, some face can be saved.
The cost of maintaining Afghan’s security forces after the withdrawal will be about $4.1 billion annually, too much for an administration pretending to be serious about debt reduction. After all, America still will have to pick up most of the tab for all the JSOC teams conducting night raids and drone attacks into Pakistan which will continue long after the “withdrawal,” until about 2024.
More than 20 NATO member nations have complied with the Obama administration’s begging and plan to pitch in for the costs in coming years.
But more is still needed, which is partly why many non-NATO nations are getting invitations to the NATO summit in Chicago this month. About 60 countries and organizations are expected to be represented there, as NATO contemplates a way out of the graveyard of empires.
and....
House Rejects Effort to End Afghan War
303-113, House Spurns Rep. Lee's Amendment
by Jason Ditz, May 17, 2012
One of 142 different amendments to the House military spending bill for 2014, Rep. Barbara Lee (D – CA)’s amendment that would effective end the Afghan War, allowing spending only for the “safe and orderly withdrawal of US troops and military contractors,” has failed.
In a vote of 303-113, Congressmen secured the continuation of the occupation through FY2014, despite polls showing overwhelming public opposition to the war. Rep. Lee insisted that “the American people are far ahead of Congress” on the question.
Other related amendments were also up for debate, including a bipartisan amendment from Reps. Jim McGovern (D – MA) and Walter Jones (R – NC) which would have compelled the president to stick to his official “timetable” for withdrawing from Afghanistan. In this case, the House Republican leadership refused to even allow the vote, saying that they were concerned that enough Congressmen from both parties might vote for it that its defeat wasn’t guaranteed. Rep. Jones said he was confident the bill would have passed.
This would’ve been an enormous blow to President Obama, because while he still public talks about the war ending at the end of 2014, he has already signed a pact with Afghanistan securing a military occupation through 2024.
The voting and lack thereof suggests that while the leadership remains uniformly hawkish in both parties, popular opposition to the war is seen as enough of a political liability that a number of Congressmen are willing to buck the leadership, if given a chance to do so. Sadly, the recognition of this fact may prevent them from ever having a chance to vote on the McGovern-Jones language.
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