U.S. military forces, part of a coalition fighting ISIS in Syria, are seen withdrawing: PRI

By Glynn Wilson –

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The images coming out of Syria, where American military forces are rapidly withdrawing as Iran’s partners ISIS are released from prisons, and the Russians and Turkey take over the ground near the border, are reminiscent of pictures coming out of Vietnam in 1973.

U.S. military forces seen withdrawing from Vietnam in 1973: Google

This is not playing well in Washington or around the country on television, as Congress is now back in session and considering impeachment of another president.

In new developments this week in the Senate, a bipartisan group made up of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch, a Republican from Idaho, and Ranking Member Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, along with new U.S. Senator Doug Jones, the Democrat from Alabama, got together to propose new comprehensive legislation in response to Turkey’s recent military incursion into northern Syria and attack on America’s partners in northeast Syria, including the Kurds.

The bipartisan legislation would require the Trump Administration to produce a strategy to defend hard-won gains against ISIS and prevent a resurgence in Syria and Iraq, authorize humanitarian assistance for Syrian civilians, restrict arms sales to Turkey and impose new sanctions against Turkey and Russia.

The bill is similar to what leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee introduced on Wednesday, as the full House approved a resolution by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 354-60 to condemn President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

“There is strong bipartisan agreement that the President’s actions have put our national security at risk, opened the floodgates for ISIS to reemerge, and sent a clear and troubling message to our partners and allies around the globe,” said Senator Jones, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“The announcement today of a so-called ‘ceasefire’ does little to reassure them and does not address the urgent need for a strategy to combat ISIS,” he said in a statement announcing his involvement. “Our new legislation will require a comprehensive response to mitigate the damage done by this rapidly unraveling situation, starting with a plan to defeat ISIS, protect civilians, curb Russia’s increasing influence in the region, and hold Turkey accountable.”

Also on Thursday, Senator Jones joined a bipartisan group of senators in a letter to President Trump urging him to reconsider his decision to abandon America’s Kurdish partners and allow Turkey to invade northeastern Syria.

Senator Jones signed a letter imploring the president to reconsider his recent military strategy in Syria. It was also signed by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).

“We are aware that one of your goals is to reduce U.S. involvement in long term wars in the Middle East, and many of us are supportive of those efforts,” the senators wrote. “However, leaving so abruptly without protection for those partners who have been with us in the fight against ISIS is not only perilous for them, but also dangerous for us and our national security.”

Key provisions of the legislation include a demand for the president to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, including plans for ISIS detainees and humanitarian assistance. The strategy should include required reports on Russian and Iranian influence in Syria, and the ability of ISIS to reconstitute itself. It demands a report from the executive branch and the Commander-in-Chief on Turkish incursion into Syria, and conditions of humanitarian access, assistance and civilian protection.

It also urges restrictions on arms sales to Turkey, sanctions against senior Turkish officials and persons providing arms to Turkish forces in Syria, a report on Turkey’s participating in NATO, and directs the President to oppose loans to Turkey from international finance institutions.

It recommends sanctions against Russia for “malign behavior” in Syria, especially with respect to Russian support for Syrian President Bashar Hafez al-Assad.

“We come to you in the sincerest bipartisan fashion because of our grave concerns about our national security and foreign policy,” the Senators wrote. “We hope that you will urge Turkey to end their offensive and find a way to a peaceful resolution while supporting our Kurdish partners to ensure regional stability.”

Read the full letter below or see it here.

Dear President Trump,

We write to you as bipartisan members of the Senate Armed Services Committee to implore you to reconsider the current strategy in regards to the Turkish incursion into northeastern Syria. We are confident that a structured and deliberate strategy to support our Kurdish partners while reassuring Turkey of our commitment to regional peace will earn broad support across Congress, the National Security community and the American people.

As we have seen in recent days, even small shifts in force posture in Syria have allowed Turkey to begin a ground invasion, shelling, and bombing of Kurdish-held territory. Five years of fighting alongside the Kurds have demonstrated to us their skill and resolve, but without an American presence, even these fierce warriors stand little chance against the modern and sophisticated Turkish forces. In fact, in the face of our announced withdrawal they have already been forced to align themselves with the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian partners in order to survive.

Furthermore, we have serious concerns about the state of the numerous prisons and camps that currently detain ISIS fighters and their families. We believe that trusting Turkey with such an essential responsibility with no oversight from the international community carries an unacceptable risk. The Kurds have demonstrated their capability in this task, and by allowing them to be attacked, we are accepting their diminished ability to provide security and protection to the region.

We are aware that one of your goals is to reduce US involvement in long term wars in the Middle East, and many of us are supportive of those efforts. However, leaving so abruptly without protection for those partners who have been with us in the fight against ISIS is not only perilous for them, but also dangerous for us and our national security. This decision will potentially degrade future relationships with allies and partners around the world, who may question our long-term commitment and resolve.

We come to you in the sincerest bipartisan fashion because of our grave concerns about our national security and foreign policy. We hope that you will urge Turkey to end their offensive and find a way to a peaceful resolution while supporting our Kurdish partners to ensure regional stability.