Senate Armed Services Committee
Chairman Carl Levin made a big move today in regard to his views on dealing
with the Syrian civil war, siding with Sen. John McCain in calling for more
aggressive steps, including precision air strikes, by the U.S. to force Bashar al-Assad out of power.
In
a letter to President Obama from Levin and McCain, the senior Republican on the
committee, they wrote: “We believe there are credible options at your disposal,
including limited military options, that would require neither putting U.S.
troops on the ground nor acting unilaterally.”
In
the letter to Obama, they identified several options that would “ease the
suffering of the Syrian people and protect U.S. national security interests.”
the letter to Obama, they identified several options that would “ease the
suffering of the Syrian people and protect U.S. national security interests.”
In
a bipartisan manner Levin, a Detroit Democrat, and McCain, an Arizona
Republican, say that they believe the unconfirmed reports that Assad’s regime
has used chemical weapons on the rebels.
Here
are excepts from the letter:
are excepts from the letter:
“While we are particularly disturbed by reports that chemical
weapons have been used in Syria, the larger tragedy is that more than 70,000
people have already been killed in Syria. More than 1 million Syrians are living
as refugees. The Syrian state is disintegrating. In short, the longer the
conflict in Syria goes on, the worse its consequences are becoming. The
potential use of chemical weapons only makes the case for greater action more
compelling and urgent.
weapons have been used in Syria, the larger tragedy is that more than 70,000
people have already been killed in Syria. More than 1 million Syrians are living
as refugees. The Syrian state is disintegrating. In short, the longer the
conflict in Syria goes on, the worse its consequences are becoming. The
potential use of chemical weapons only makes the case for greater action more
compelling and urgent.
“… We urge you to take the following
steps:
steps:
“First, we urge you to lead an
effort, together with our friends and allies, to degrade the Assad regime’s
airpower and to support Turkey if they are willing to establish a safe zone
inside of Syria’s northern border.
effort, together with our friends and allies, to degrade the Assad regime’s
airpower and to support Turkey if they are willing to establish a safe zone
inside of Syria’s northern border.
“… Second, Gen. James Mattis, the commander
of U.S. Central Command, testified last week to the Senate Armed Services
Committee that ‘a fair amount’ of Assad’s aircraft could be destroyed on the
ground using precision airstrikes. Such a mission could also include Assad’s SCUD
missile batteries and would not require American or allied pilots to fly into
the reach of Syria’s air defenses.
of U.S. Central Command, testified last week to the Senate Armed Services
Committee that ‘a fair amount’ of Assad’s aircraft could be destroyed on the
ground using precision airstrikes. Such a mission could also include Assad’s SCUD
missile batteries and would not require American or allied pilots to fly into
the reach of Syria’s air defenses.
“… Finally, we urge you to provide
more robust assistance directly to vetted opposition groups. We believe such
assistance should include tactical intelligence and increased deliveries of
food and medicine, fuel,
communications equipment, medical care for the wounded, and other humanitarian
assistance. To this end, establishing a safe haven inside Syria would also
serve the important goal of delivering humanitarian assistance more
effectively.”
more robust assistance directly to vetted opposition groups. We believe such
assistance should include tactical intelligence and increased deliveries of
food and medicine, fuel,
communications equipment, medical care for the wounded, and other humanitarian
assistance. To this end, establishing a safe haven inside Syria would also
serve the important goal of delivering humanitarian assistance more
effectively.”
