- WASHINGTON: House lawmakers impatient with the nearly 10-year-old war in Afghanistan are pressing for an accelerated timetable for withdrawing US troops and a clear strategy.
The House debated the $690 billion defense bill on Thursday. It weighed a bipartisan amendment requiring President Barack Obama to provide a plan and timeframe for speeding up the transition of military operations from US to Afghan leadership.
Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Americans have grown tired of the war. Republican Mac Thornberry warned that a timetable would undermine US efforts and could be dangerous for American forces.
Obama will begin withdrawing some of the 100,000 troops in Afghanistan in July, with all combat forces due out by 2014 The House aimed to pass the bill on Thursday but first had to vote on nearly a dozen amendments.