House debates troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — Anti-war lawmakers are getting a chance to make their case before facing almost certain defeat of a House resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who wrote the resolution, claims that the White Houses of both George W.Bush and Barack Obama circumvented Congress in escalating military operations in Afghanistan. The resolution is an outgrowth of the frustrations of many liberals over Obama's war policy, but it has little support.

The measure directs the president to remove troops within 30 days of adoption, but gives him until the end of the year to pull out all military personnel if he deems the 30-day deadline unsafe. Obama has said he wants to begin withdrawal in July, 2011.

The bill is H. Con. Res. 248.