Seventy percent of Americans oppose sending U.S. weapons to Syrian rebels, including 74% of independents, 71% of Republicans and 66% of Democrats. [1] Key Members of Congress agree: the House and Senate intelligence committees have blocked an Administration plan to arm the Syrian rebels as a “covert action.” [2]
Now, Vermont Democrat Peter Welch and New York Republican Chris Gibson are introducing an amendment on the House defense appropriations bill that would block U.S. military involvement in Syria. Urge your representative to support the Gibson-Welch amendment.
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/block-syria-arms
Reps. Welch and Gibson have submitted the following amendment for consideration on the defense appropriations bill in the House: [3]
None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for the purpose of, or in a manner which would have the effect of, supporting, directly or indirectly, military or paramilitary operations in Syria by any nation, group, organization, movement, or individual or, for United States military operations in Syria without the express authorization of Congress.
We don’t need another U.S. war in the Middle East. Whatever influence the U.S. has in the situation should be used to promote a political settlement that ends the war, not to add more weapons to kill more people. We don’t need more U.S. “covert” military actions that aren’t explicitly approved by Congress after open debate. We don’t need to take sides in a sectarian civil war.
There’s still time to stop this military escalation. Urge your Representative to speak up.
https://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/block-syria-arms
Thank you for all you do to help bring about a more just foreign policy,
Robert Naiman, Chelsea Mozen, Sarah Burns and Megan Iorio
Just Foreign Policy
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References:
1. “Most Americans oppose arming Syrian rebels, poll shows,” Lindsey Boerma, CBS News, June 17, 2013, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57589693/most-americans-oppose-arming-syrian-rebels-poll-shows/
2. “Exclusive: Congress delaying U.S. aid to Syrian rebels – sources, “ Mark Hosenball and Phil Stewart, Reuters, July 8 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/08/us-usa-syria-arms-idUSBRE96713N20130708
3. You can view the amendment here: http://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/GIBSON_039_xml716131342124212.pdf