Bowling Green Today

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) forced the U.S. Senate to vote on his War Powers Resolution (S.J. Res. 51), which aimed to end the American military presence in Syria and return war powers to Congress. The resolution directed the president to remove all U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in and affecting Syria within 30 days of its enactment. Dr. Paul's resolution was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and JD Vance (R-OH).

Dr. Paul emphasized the need to prioritize American security and protect the lives of servicemembers. He stated, "Keeping 900 U.S. troops in Syria does nothing to advance American security. Rather, our intervention puts those servicemembers at grave risk by providing an enticing target for Iranian-backed militias." He also highlighted the importance of Congress reclaiming its constitutional war powers from the executive branch.

A bipartisan group of 13 Senators voted in favor of Dr. Paul's resolution, reflecting the wide support for ending the American military presence in Syria. Many believe that a serious debate is necessary to determine the achievability of the mission and the well-being of the troops involved. Robert S. Ford, Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria, stated, "We owe our soldiers serving there in harm's way a serious debate about whether their mission is, in fact, achievable."

The Biden Administration currently maintains 900 troops in Syria, despite Congress never authorizing the use of military force in the region. These troops have been vulnerable to attacks by both state and non-state actors, with 76 attacks occurring since October 7, 2023. The Pentagon reported that 59 U.S. military personnel were injured in these attacks, highlighting the risks faced by the troops on the ground.

The U.S. military presence in Syria began in 2014 without congressional authorization. The initial mission was to degrade and destroy ISIS, which was achieved in 2019. However, 900 U.S. troops remain in Syria without a clear objective, definition of victory, exit strategy, or authorization from Congress to engage in hostilities.

Support for Dr. Paul's resolution extends beyond political figures. Erik Sperling, Executive Director of Pro-Diplomacy Advocacy Group at Just Foreign Policy, emphasized the importance of casting a vote on matters that impact the lives of troops. He stated, "While this is the first vote on Syria in the Senate, it is the fourth vote in Congress in just over two years, and pressure will only continue to grow until this endless war is brought to a close."

The Syria War Powers Resolution (S.J. Res. 51) aims to restore the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. George Landrith, President of Frontiers of Freedom Institute, highlighted the need to uphold constitutional principles and prevent an unchecked concentration of power in the Executive branch.

It is clear that there is a growing consensus that the American military presence in Syria must come to an end. Dr. Sumantra Maitra, Senior Fellow at the Center for Renewing America, emphasized the need to reassess priorities and focus on limited over-the-horizon counter-terrorism missions, leaving the region to find its natural equilibrium.

With Dr. Rand Paul's War Powers Resolution receiving bipartisan support and garnering attention from various organizations and experts, the issue of U.S. troops in Syria is being brought to the forefront. The Senate's vote on this resolution marks an important step towards ending the endless war in Syria and reclaiming Congress' constitutional war powers.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.paul.senate.gov/icymi-dr-rand-paul-forces-u-s-senate-vote-on-war-powers-resolution-concerning-u-s-troops-in-syria/