Factbox: Excerpts from the House debate on Afghanistan

(Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected a resolution by liberal Democrat Dennis Kucinich calling for President Obama to remove U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

Here are some of the arguments that were made for and against the pullout resolution on the House floor.

SPEAKING FOR THE RESOLUTION:

REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS KUCINICH, DEMOCRAT:

"Congress has to be mindful of our responsibilities under this Constitution, Article 1 Section 8, to claim responsibility for the casualties, troop casualties which are now close to one thousand; to claim responsibility for the cost which is approaching $250 billion and together with the Iraq war, close to $1 trillion. And this at a great cost to our priorities here at home: for housing, for job creation, for health care, for education."

REPRESENTATIVE JAMES MCGOVERN, DEMOCRAT:

"Now, I certainly don't believe we should abandon the Afghan people. But instead of nation-building in Afghanistan, I'd like to do some more nation-building here at home."

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS, DEMOCRAT

"How much blood must we spill to say enough is enough? ... Now is the time for the elected representatives of the people to give peace a chance."

REPRESENTATIVE RON PAUL, REPUBLICAN

"The more we kill, the more Taliban we get ... We are spending trillions of dollars on these useless wars ... If people were concerned about the disastrous effect of debt on this country, we would change our foreign policy and we would be safer for it."

SPEAKING AGAINST THE RESOLUTION:

REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD BERMAN, DEMOCRAT, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE;

"President Obama has taken a very deliberative approach ... He deserves an opportunity now to implement his strategy.

"He has given us the timeline for when he expects to see results, and there will be a reassessment of our strategy in 18 months ... I'm not endorsing an open-ended commitment. I'm not advocating that we remain without assessing our progress. But I do believe this strategy of our president deserves support, and I urge opposition to the resolution.

REPRESENTATIVE ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, RANKING REPUBLICAN ON HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:

"No enemy was ever vanquished; no victory was ever secured, by running away. Those who wish to destroy us would surely follow us, convinced that we had been beaten, and eager to attack us wherever we go, as they would be confident that we can in fact be beaten again."

REPRESENTATIVE IKE SKELTON, DEMOCRAT, CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE:

"Last December, after eight long years with no strategy in Afghanistan, President Obama recommitted our nation to defeating al Qaeda ...

"Even with just a fraction of these reinforcements in place, we already see signs of success ... This counterinsurgency strategy is the best chance we have to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for al Qaeda and those who wish to kill Americans."

REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD MCKEON, RANKING REPUBLICAN ON THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE:

"One only has to look to the headlines to know that our military forces are making progress in their offensive against Taliban insurgents in Helmand Province ... Why second guess the Commander-Chief and his commanders so soon after the announcement of a new strategy?"