Pressure to exit Afghanistan rising

WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- Congressional and public pressure to get out of Afghanistan is rising as the administration of President Barack Obama debates the size of a promised pullout.

The president is expected to announce in July the size and pace of a troop withdrawal he promised in December 2009 when he launched a surge of 30,000 troops, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Afghanistan commander, Gen. David Petraeus, who oppose a large pullout, are leaving their posts. CIA Director Leon Panetta is to replace Gates, and Petraeus is in line for his job.

In May, 204 House members, just 14 short of a majority, voted for an amendment to make the administration to set a deadline for withdrawal within 60 days. The measure gained 42 votes over a similar attempt last year.

The whole House Democratic leadership supported it, along with 26 Republicans. Republican presidential candidates are starting to question the policy too.

The death of Osama bin Laden and growing doubts about Afghan President Hamid Karzai are fueling the opposition, and recent polls show half of Americans opposing the intervention and most believing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are driving the U.S. budget deficit.