To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Congress: Block supply of anti-aircraft weapons to Syrian rebels
Just Foreign Policy
We urge Congress to prohibit the Central Intelligence Agency and other U.S. intelligence agencies from supplying, or facilitating the supply of, anti-aircraft weapons to armed rebels fighting in Syria.
Why is this important?
In the wake of Congress' rejection of an Authorization for the Use of Military Force in Syria, the Administration has announced that the CIA is increasing its efforts to supply weapons and training to armed rebels in Syria. Since it is widely acknowledged that Al Qaeda types are the most important faction among the armed rebels in Syria, it is very likely that weapons supplied by the United States to Syrian rebels will fall into the hands of people who could use them to kill Americans. The most dangerous weapons that could plausibly be supplied to Syrian rebels are anti-aircraft weapons, because these could be used to shoot down civilian aircraft.
Congress can make sure this doesn't happen by prohibiting the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies from supplying - or facilitating the supply of - anti-aircraft weapons to armed rebels in Syria.
One opportunity to do this may come when Congress considers the intelligence authorization that establishes funding levels for U.S. intelligence agencies.
Such a Congressional restriction on the paramilitary activities of the CIA would be unprecedented in recent history, and is only likely to succeed if it has very broad political support, so it is strategic to focus Congressional attention on blocking the most dangerous possible arms transfer to Syrian rebels.
Congress can make sure this doesn't happen by prohibiting the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies from supplying - or facilitating the supply of - anti-aircraft weapons to armed rebels in Syria.
One opportunity to do this may come when Congress considers the intelligence authorization that establishes funding levels for U.S. intelligence agencies.
Such a Congressional restriction on the paramilitary activities of the CIA would be unprecedented in recent history, and is only likely to succeed if it has very broad political support, so it is strategic to focus Congressional attention on blocking the most dangerous possible arms transfer to Syrian rebels.