House To Debate Withdrawal

Before the House votes on a two-part spending package to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the chamber will also consider legislation to immediately withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

This second bill was introduced during the Rules Committee late Wednesday night and gives anti-war Democrats the straight up-or-down vote for which they have repeatedly asked their leaders. This measure will be debated for up to an hour and is not expected to pass.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote a letter to Congress "to express [his] concern over proposals to incrementally fund" the military in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"In my view, such a proposal would cause significant disruptions to the effectiveness and efficient operation of the Department of Defense and the health and welfare of the U.S. military," Gates wrote in a letter to Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.