House Rejects Plan to Leave Afghanistan by Year's End‎ - nytimes

WASHINGTON — After a three-hour debate held to allow antiwar Democrats to air their dissent, the House voted 356 to 65 to reject the withdrawal proposal. Five Republicans joined 60 Democrats in support of pulling out; 189 Democrats and 167 Republicans were opposed.

“Is the cost of this war worth it?” asked Representative Chellie Pingree, Democrat of Maine. “Can we afford to turn our backs on the challenges we face at home and continue to pursue failed policies abroad?”

But a broad coalition of Democrats and Republicans contended that American troops were making progress in Afghanistan and that an abrupt withdrawal would create an opening for the Taliban to return to power and allow Afghanistan to become a haven for terrorists again.

“Passing this resolution guarantees failure in Afghanistan and poses a serious risk that we will once again face the same situation that existed on Sept. 11,” said Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. .... House Rejects Plan to Leave Afghanistan by Year's End‎

5 Myths about the war in Afghanistan - washingtonpost