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| June 12, 2013: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. gestures as he speaks in Washington. (AP) |
A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation to block
the U.S. from escalating its involvement in the Syrian civil war as
concerns mount on Capitol Hill over the Obama administration's plan to
directly arm rebels.
Senators Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Mike Lee, R-Utah; Tom Udall, D-N.M,; and
Chris Murphy, D-Conn., introduced the bill Thursday to prohibit the
Defense Department and intelligence agencies from funding operations in
Syria.
Earlier this month, Obama announced the U.S. would begin providing
arms and ammunition, after President Bashar Assad's military dealt the
rebels serious setbacks. The conflict is now in its third year with some
93,000 estimated dead.
Paul said he was disturbed by the president's decision to reverse
course and arm the rebels, fearing getting mired in a conflict in which
little is known about the fighters battling the regime.
"Engaging in yet another conflict in the Middle East with no vote or
Congressional oversight compounds the severity of this situation," Paul
said in a statement. "The American people deserve real deliberation by
their elected officials before we send arms to a region rife with
extremists who seek to threaten the U.S. and her allies."
Murphy expressed concern over the possibility that American weapons
and money could fall into the hands of terrorist organizations.
"We should be extremely wary of allowing the United States to be
drawn into a complicated proxy war that could mire our country for years
at a potentially incalculable cost to U.S. taxpayers and America's
reputation at home and abroad," Murphy said.
The senators said the bill would not apply to non-lethal humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people provided by the U.S.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted in May to provide
weapons to rebels in Syria, as well as military training to vetted rebel
groups and sanctions against anyone who sells oil or transfers arms to
the Assad regime.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday, Obama refused
to describe the type of military support the U.S. will give to Syrian
rebels. He praised a decision by world leaders at the G-8 summit in
Northern Ireland to seek a negotiated peace.
Obama said even though leaders could not agree on whether Assad must
go, he has decided it is not possible for Assad to regain legitimacy.
Sources :
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/21/senators-seek-to-block-military-funds-to-syria/
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