To: The United States House of Representatives
House: Oppose Engel Bill Which Promotes Syria War & Undermines Iran Deal
Just Foreign Policy
Oppose Engel's bill HR 5732, the misnamed "Syria Civilian Protection Act." This bill would undermine U.S. diplomacy to reduce violence in Syria, advocates further entangling the U.S. militarily in Syria's civil war, and would undermine the Iran nuclear deal.
Why is this important?
New York Representative Eliot Engel, who voted for the Iraq war [1] and opposed the Iran nuclear deal [2], has introduced a bill that would undermine U.S. diplomacy to reduce violence in Syria, advocates further entangling the U.S. militarily in Syria's civil war, and would undermine the Iran nuclear deal. Engel's bill is opposed by the Obama Administration.
The bill advocates for the U.S. to impose a "no fly zone" in Syria, an act of war. Hillary Clinton has noted that a "no fly zone" would mean that the U.S. would have to “take out all of the air defense, many of which are located in populated areas. So … you’re going to kill a lot of Syrians. So all of a sudden this intervention that people talk about so glibly becomes an American and NATO involvement where you take a lot of civilians.” [3] The Obama Administration opposes calls for the U.S. to impose a "no fly zone" in Syria.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation, America's biggest peace and diplomacy lobby, notes that H.R. 5732 would "undermine its stated goal to encourage a negotiated political solution" and that "while the Obama administration has opposed H.R. 5732 on the grounds that it will undermine its Syria diplomacy, the bill could move to the House floor during the lame duck session in November." FCNL notes that the bill "would undermine the Iran nuclear accord (JCPOA) in various ways, but perhaps most importantly, this bill would re-impose some of the same sanctions that were lifted in the JCPOA in exchange for Iran’s nuclear concessions, further obstructing Iran from receiving the sanctions relief." [4]
Urge your Representative to oppose H.R. 5732 by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml
2. https://engel.house.gov/latest-news1/engel-statement-on-iran-deal1/
3. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/us/politics/hillary-clinton-was-open-to-covert-action-abroad-hacked-transcript-shows.html
4. https://www.fcnl.org/updates/analysis-syria-civilian-protection-act-h-r-5732-334
The bill advocates for the U.S. to impose a "no fly zone" in Syria, an act of war. Hillary Clinton has noted that a "no fly zone" would mean that the U.S. would have to “take out all of the air defense, many of which are located in populated areas. So … you’re going to kill a lot of Syrians. So all of a sudden this intervention that people talk about so glibly becomes an American and NATO involvement where you take a lot of civilians.” [3] The Obama Administration opposes calls for the U.S. to impose a "no fly zone" in Syria.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation, America's biggest peace and diplomacy lobby, notes that H.R. 5732 would "undermine its stated goal to encourage a negotiated political solution" and that "while the Obama administration has opposed H.R. 5732 on the grounds that it will undermine its Syria diplomacy, the bill could move to the House floor during the lame duck session in November." FCNL notes that the bill "would undermine the Iran nuclear accord (JCPOA) in various ways, but perhaps most importantly, this bill would re-impose some of the same sanctions that were lifted in the JCPOA in exchange for Iran’s nuclear concessions, further obstructing Iran from receiving the sanctions relief." [4]
Urge your Representative to oppose H.R. 5732 by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml
2. https://engel.house.gov/latest-news1/engel-statement-on-iran-deal1/
3. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/us/politics/hillary-clinton-was-open-to-covert-action-abroad-hacked-transcript-shows.html
4. https://www.fcnl.org/updates/analysis-syria-civilian-protection-act-h-r-5732-334