WASHINGTON (March 10, 2010)—Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, and Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, both voted against a resolution Wednesday that called for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

The measure was defeated 356-65.

"I am strongly opposed to withdrawing troops from Afghanistan at a time when our troops are beginning to make progress against the enemy,” Edwards said.

“Afghanistan is where terrorists plotted to kill Americans on September 11th and they remain committed to killing Americans today.”

Anti-war lawmakers backed the resolution.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who wrote it, claimed that both the Bush and Obama administrations circumvented Congress in escalating military operations in Afghanistan.

The resolution was an outgrowth of the frustrations of many liberals over Mr. Obama's war policy, but it had little support.

The measure would have directed the president to remove troops within 30 days of adoption, but gave him until the end of the year to pull out all military personnel if he deems the 30-day deadline unsafe.

Mr. Obama has said he wants to begin withdrawal in July 2011.

During the debate on the resolution, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., blasted the news media as "despicable," accusing them of ignoring the war in Afghanistan even as troops continue to die there.

Kennedy pointed and waved his arms excitedly during a speech in which he chastised the media for focusing "24/7" on former Rep. Eric Massa of New York, who resigned from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, at a time when lawmakers were debating the future of the war.

He counted two members of the news media in the gallery, and said a lack of attention on the war was feeding public cynicism about government.

Kennedy announced last month he would not seek a ninth term in Congress.