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The U.S. House of Representatives approved a spending bill that will give more than $30 billion more to the war in Afghanistan. This comes just days after thousands of secret documents about the war hit the Web via Wikileaks and amidst growing concern from Democrats that the war cannot be won.
We’re analyzing coverage from Fox News, ABC, CNN and The Washington Post.
The bill comes after the Pentagon recently warned funding for the war in Afghanistan could run out as early as August.
Fox News says troops are “finally” getting the money they need.
“The House has finally just passed the war spending bill, with a final tally of 308 votes to 114, which now means troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will soon receive their long-awaited money and there is funding for the 30,000 troop surge in Afghanistan.”
But some say Democratic opposition to the bill illustrates growing dissent between Mr. Obama and his party over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey said he had “profound skepticism” the money would mean a successful end to the war. ABC News has more.
“…President Obama received a sharp rebuke from members of his own party. More than 100 Democrats voted against the spending, in particular criticizing plans to add 30,000 troops to the conflict.”
The number of Democrats who opposed the funding was more than double the number who voted down a similar proposal last year. So what changed? CNN points to the leak of more than 90,000 documents on the war via Wikileaks, which highlights the U.S. military’s struggles in Afghanistan.
“It was a tough battle because a lot of the president’s fellow Democrats in the House didn’t want to sign on to this. Some of them were already anti-war, but even more so now and really inflamed about this leak suggesting that maybe this is a lost cause.”
But an article in The Washington Post suggests that had nothing to do with it.
“The… secret documents… had little impact on the debate; most of the 102 Democrats who voted against the funding had already expressed doubts about the war...”
So, is this is the long-awaited money that will help bolster U.S. troops in Afghanistan? And what does it mean for Democrats in Congress?
Get more multi-source news from Newsy.com.
WRITER: Lauren Zima
PRODUCER: Newsy Staff