Washington, May 27 (ANI): Republicans and Democrats appear to be on the same platform in rejecting an accelerated U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In a surprisingly close vote, 26 Republicans voted for the amendment from Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) as it failed, 204-215, Fox News reports.
The measure would have required a plan and timeframe leading toward a U.S. withdrawal and negotiations with the Taliban to seek a political solution to the decade-old war.
While the Democratic support for the troop withdrawal timeline is not surprising, the number of Republicans who jumped aboard the withdrawal movement represents a new wrinkle in GOP politics.
Conservatives like Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) were among the Republican "yes" votes, along with a handful of freshmen, like Reps. Justin Amash of Michigan, Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina and Todd Rokita of Indiana.
"We need to rethink what we're doing in Afghanistan," McGovern said during floor debate on the amendment to the annual defense policy bill.
He added: "It's time to define the plan to bring our uniformed men and women home to their families and their communities."
Lawmakers also rejected by 123-294 an amendment by Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) that would have required the Pentagon to submit a plan for complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 60 days, minus those involved in counter-terrorism operations. (ANI)
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