While "furious Republicans" say they will rebuke Donald Trump over the Syria debacle, the one person with the power to allow or block that congressional rebuke remains relatively mum.
Since making a single statement a week ago that "A precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn't had much to say. He added that the withdrawal "would increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups regroup." All of which is precisely what has unfolded in the past week.
Despite that, McConnell is making no promises about the sanctions bill Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen have prepared and insist they will introduce as soon as the Senate reconvenes this week. As of Friday, McConnell would not comment on whether the bill will come to a vote, with a spokesman saying that he had no "updates or guidance on this right now," and that "Syria-related legislation was not included in guidance from McConnell's office about what will be taken up on the Senate floor this week."
The House might try to force McConnell to act by passing its own sanctions bill. Rep. Liz Cheney and 30 Republicans have the companion sanctions bill to Graham's, but House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel has another, much tougher one. "Both parties are outraged by the president’s reckless and dangerous decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria and abandon our Kurdish allies," House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer wrote to Democrats laying out upcoming priorities. "It is shameful that this president has betrayed a reliable ally, is enabling the return of ISIS and is putting our nation and other allies, including Europe and Israel, at risk. As Turkish forces push deeper into Syria and the Kurdish death toll rises, Congress ought to respond."
Yes, Congress ought to respond. As of now, there's no indication whether McConnell is willing to do that, or if he'll make the nickname he so relishes—the "Grim Reaper"—literal.
Keep the pressure up. Please give $1 to our nominee fund to help Democrats and end McConnell's career as majority leader.