War funding

A House vote to fund President Obama's troop surge in Afghanistan reflects divided American opinion over the war there and use of resources for other funding priorities.

The vote was not close. The measure approving $59 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and other domestic spending passed 308-114. But 102 Democrats voted against President Obama's request, which included $37 billion for money needed to support his revised strategy for Afghanistan. Last year, 32 Democrats opposed Afghan war funding.

The appropriations bill followed two other anti-war resolutions. The House also rejected, 372-38, a resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from Pakistan. While there are only about 230 troops known to be in Pakistan, their presence is a sensitive issue in both countries, more so after the release of 90,000 documents on WikiLeaks — some of which support allegations that the Pakistani intelligence service was collaborating with the Taliban.

Earlier this month, 162 lawmakers voted to set a date for withdrawing from Afghanistan. President Obama's latest strategy is to increase troop levels this year with plans to begin bringing them home next summer.

Opponent Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Mass., said current Afghan policy is "deeply flawed" and called it "a mistake to give this administration yet another blank check.

While the other domestic programs go without funds, Rep. McGovern opposed borrowing "another $33 billion for nation-building in Afghanistan."

Supporters argued that it would be wrong to cut funding for the nine-year-old war now when U.S. policies are working.

The Senate has already passed the legislation after eliminating $20 billion in spending many Democrats wanted. Now the measure goes to President Obama, who said the funds are needed "to ensure that our troops have the resources they need and that we're able to do what's necessary for our national security."

But he faces growing skepticism about that.