House Democratic Leadership Teams Up With Republicans To Keep US Troops in Afghanistan
Eric Garris / AntiWar.com
(July 21, 2020) — By a vote of 284-129, the House of Representatives soundly defeated an amendment to establish a plan to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan. A slight plurality of Democrats supported the measure, with most of the leadership opposing. All Republicans except two voted in to oppose. Libertarian Justin Amash supported the measure. The amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was offered by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
President Trump declared in late May that he wanted to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan before the November election. Since that time, Democratic leaders have shifted to an even more hawkish position, pulling out all the stops to prevent such a move. Much of the foreign policy of the Democratic leadership has been driven by opposition to Trump’s positions, rather than by what is best for the country or what the American people desire.
American troops have been fighting in Afghanistan for 19 years, with no progress in reducing violence.
This article was written while observing the voting on CSPAN. The House Clerk has not yet posted the roll-call vote. This will and any additional information will be added to the article when available.
House Defeats Amendment To Cut Defense Spending Levels by 10%
Amendment to make across-the-board reductions overwhelmingly defeated by members of both parties
(July 21, 2020) — By a vote of 324-93, the House of Representatives soundly defeated an amendment to reduce Pentagon authorized spending levels by 10%. The amendment does not specify what to cut, only that Congress make across-the-board reductions. The amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was offered by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI). No Republicans voted for the amendment. Libertarian Justin Amash supported the amendment.
Earlier, the House defeated an amendment to stop the Pentagon’s submission of an unfunded priorities list. Each year, after the Pentagon’s budget request is submitted to Congress, the military services send a separate “wish list,” termed “unfunded priorities.” This list includes requests for programs that the military would like Congress to fund, in case they decide to add more money to the Pentagon’s proposed budget.
This article was written while observing the voting on CSPAN. The House Clerk has not yet posted the roll-call vote. This will and any additional information will be added to the article when available.
House Votes to Block Funding for US Nuclear Test
Senate Version Would Fund a Test
(July 20, 2020) — In a 227-179 vote Monday, the House passed an amendment to the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) specifically forbidding any spending to carry out a nuclear weapons test. President Trump is reportedly keen to conduct such a test.
The vote passed heavily on party lines, and will set up a fight to reconcile this NDAA with the Senate version, as the Senate’s version has an amendment from Sen. Cotton (R-AK) that sets aside $10 million specially to reduce the time required to conduct the test.
The US hasn’t conducted a test in decades, but President Trump sees a quick test as leverage to try to get his way on nuclear arms limitation talks, which have been stalled on US demands that China agree to participate.
A nuclear test is likely to fuel a strong international backlash, and provoke other nations to test. It will also make it difficult for the US to criticize other nations for their own nuclear development, when they are flagrantly ignoring international norms.
Posted in accordance with Title 17, Section 107, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.
