politics

HOUSE REJECTS AFGHAN PULLOUT

The U.S. House rejected a resolution Wednesday that called on President Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by year's end.

However, the 356-65 vote highlighted the willingness of liberal Democrats to abandon the president on a major issue even as important votes loom on health care and signaled that many in his party are weary of waging war.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., gave Democrats the freedom to vote their conscience on the resolution rather than muscling them to back Obama's war policy. In the end, 60 Democrats and five Republicans voted for the resolution while 189 Democrats and 167 Republicans voted against it.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, introduced the resolution, with the backing of other liberals who are angry with Obama for "doubling down" in Afghanistan after assuming what they thought was an antiwar posture during the 2008 presidential campaign. Obama has said he wants to start bringing U.S. troops home in July 2011 but hasn't set a final exit date.

AHMADINEJAD-VS.-GATES DEBATE

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used a brief visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday to lob insults at the United States and argue that international forces won't stop terrorism and will only lead to more civilian deaths.

Ahmadinejad said that the United States was playing a "double game" in Afghanistan, fighting militants it once supported.

His comments were a retort to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who earlier accused Tehran of "playing a double game" by nurturing relations with the Afghan government while supporting insurgents to undermine U.S. and NATO troops. Tehran denies the it.

PAKISTANI SPY CHIEF TO STAY ON

Pakistan's powerful spy chief, who is important to the domestic campaign against Islamic extremists and his country's cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition in neighboring Afghanistan, will remain in office for another year, the government announced.

Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha was due to retire this month as the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, and the additional year could help cement Pakistan's increasingly tough position against militants and its improving relationship with the United States.

The decision signals that a similar extension probably will be granted to the army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, who is scheduled to retire before the end of this year.

NEWS SERVICES