Congress supports training Syrian rebels

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Bending for once to the will of the White House, Republicans and Democrats coalesced Thursday behind President Barack Obama’s call to train and arm Syrian rebels fighting Islamic State militants and pointed toward votes in the heat of a midterm election campaign.

“We ought to give the president what he’s asking for,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said, although he swiftly added that many Republicans believe the Democratic commander in chief’s strategy is too tepid to crush militants who have overrun parts of Iraq and Syria and beheaded two American journalists.

On the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he expected legislation ratifying Obama’s request to clear Congress by the end of next week when lawmakers hope to wrap up their work and go home to campaign for re-election.

Congress’ two other top officials, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, also said Obama likely would get the support he seeks.

Congress is in the midst of a two-week session that had been expected to focus on domestic issues, principally legislation to extend routine government funding beyond the end of the Sept. 30 budget year. That agenda changed abruptly Wednesday night, when Obama delivered a speech from the White House seeking “additional authorities and resources to train and equip” rebels.