Democratic discontent with US policy on Syria grows

Handful of lawmakers slam failed American effort to train and equip moderate rebels to fight Islamic State

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic discontent with the US strategy in Syria is growing, with some of President Barack Obama’s supporters in Congress questioning what he is doing to fight Islamic State militants, stem the exodus of Syrian refugees and find a political solution to the conflict.

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy on Monday said the beleaguered US program to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels to fight IS should be scrapped. Gen. Lloyd Austin, the top US commander in the Middle East, told Congress earlier this month that only four or five trained fighters are battling the militants — significantly short of the US goal to train 5,000.

Moreover, the US military said a trained Syrian rebel commander had surrendered six trucks and ammunition, supplied by the US-led coalition, to an intermediary linked to the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. US Central Command said the items — roughly 25 percent of the equipment assigned to that unit — apparently were handed over in exchange for safe passage within the region.

“For those of us who opposed the Syria train-and-equip program from the start, our predictions that our assistance would end up aiding mortal enemies of the US like al-Qaeda are now coming true,” Murphy said in calling for the demise of the program, for which Congress put up an initial $500 million.

Also on Monday, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey wrote a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry calling for a new diplomatic approach to reach a negotiated settlement in Syria. In the letter, he also urged the Obama administration to push other nations to meet their funding pledges to the UN World Food Program, which has faced cutbacks. And he called on the administration to insist on the enforcement of current UN resolutions, including the banning of barrel bombs that have killed scores of Syrian civilians.

“I believe the United States should make the protection of Syrian civilians from war crimes and crimes against humanity a higher priority,” Casey said in the letter. “More than four years of strife have displaced nearly 12 million Syrians from their homes. Millions are seeking refuge in neighboring countries, placing incredible strain on the local communities and are now migrating into Europe, seeking better living conditions. Civilians are suffering under IS rule in parts of Syria and hiding from Assad’s barrel bombs in others.”

Last week, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen also expressed frustration that only a handful of the US-trained Syrian rebels were still on the battlefield fighting IS.

“I think, as it has been operating, it has not been successful,” Shaheen said at a congressional hearing.

Obama discussed Syria on Monday during his speech to the UN General Assembly, calling the situation “an assault on all our humanity.” He said the United States is willing to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to solve the Syrian conflict. But he says bringing about an end to the four-year civil war means Syrian President Bashar Assad cannot stay in office.