House GOP moves ahead on training of Syrian rebels
Associated Press
WASHINGTON
Lawmakers raced Monday to authorize an expanded mission to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels before heading back to the campaign trail, with House Republicans preparing legislation backing a central plank of President Barack Obama’s strategy against the Islamic State group.
The Obama administration says the training operation is needed to establish credible, local ground forces to accompany U.S. air strikes against the militants who have conquered large parts of Iraq and Syria, beheaded two American journalists and become a top U.S. terrorism threat in the region and beyond. The House and Senate are both on a tight schedule, looking to wrap up work Friday before an almost two-month recess in preparation for November’s midterm elections.
The authorization under consideration likely will be included as an amendment to a spending bill Congress must pass to keep the government open until mid-December. That would give lawmakers the opportunity to have a separate debate and vote on the matter — something members of both parties want.
The measure doesn’t authorize U.S. combat troops in Iraq or Syria or explicitly ban them, reflecting a congressional divide between hawks seeking tougher action than that proposed by Obama and lawmakers weary from more than a decade of U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also compels the Pentagon to present Congress with a plan 15 days before any training begins, according to a summary released by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif.
Democrats are reviewing the proposal, which would enable the military to take over what previously has been a limited, covert operation to beef up rebels battling extremist groups and President Bashar Assad’s army. The administration isn’t likely to protest the conditions. It has sent more than 1,000 troops to Iraq to provide military assistance and bolster security of U.S. diplomatic facilities and personnel. But Obama, too, opposes any U.S. ground offensive.
Republicans were to gather for internal talks this morning. A House vote could take place as early as Wednesday, by which time lawmakers will have had opportunities to question the administration’s top national security officials. The House Rules Committee voted late Monday to have six hours of debate on the amendment, once it is taken up. The Senate is expected to follow after a House vote.