Today - if Iraq war architect and Iran war advocate Eliot Engel has his way - the House will use fast-track “suspension” procedures to endorse more endless unconstitutional war in Syria, by passing a sweeping sanctions bill against anyone doing business in Syria. These fast-track suspension procedures are supposed to be reserved for ‘non-controversial’ bills, not for bills pushing major shifts in U.S. policy towards even more unconstitutional war. Pushing this controversial bill under fast-track suspension procedures contradicts promises that the House would return to “regular order” under Democratic leadership, with bills like this going through normal committee procedure and normal votes.
When Florida Republican Marco Rubio pushed this sweeping Syria sanctions bill as part of the first bill in the new Senate during the partial government shutdown, Defense News reported: ‘Some Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have agreed with Trump in substance [on withdrawing from Syria], but McConnell fast-tracked GOP Sen. Marco Rubio’s “Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act,” signaling displeasure with the president’s Syria withdrawal pronouncement.’
Thus, Eliot Engel is trying to do in the House today exactly what Mitch McConnell was trying to do in the Senate: fast-track a bill in opposition to U.S. withdrawal from Syria, making this the first foreign policy bill of the new Congress, in support of a war that Congress has never authorized, in violation of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, during the partial government shutdown. Some parts of the federal government may be closed, but the endless war machine keeps going.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation says: “support for this bill is widely being interpreted as an appeal for continued military involvement…we are particularly concerned that the House plans to consider it through a fast-track procedure used to quickly pass non-controversial bills…We urge Congress to rethink this approach and provide full and open consideration of this legislation.”
When President Trump announced that he would withdraw from Syria, he did two specific things that generated a lot of criticism: he said it was in thirty days and he announced it without apparently consulting U.S. allies. The "rollout" of leaving Syria gave many the impression of a “precipitous withdrawal.” But that's not what critics of Syria withdrawal are trying to stop now. They’re trying to stop the U.S. from leaving Syria ever. The Pentagon now says it is implementing an orderly withdrawal over four months, not thirty days. The Administration is talking to Turkey, it's talking to the Saudis, it's "consulting with allies." This debate is now not about “precipitous withdrawal.” It’s about any withdrawal at all.
Some people want to keep U.S. troops in Syria forever. They are entitled to their opinions. But Congress should have a full debate and recorded roll call vote on supporting or opposing U.S. withdrawal from Syria, not a sneaky fast track maneuver so Members of Congress can check a box with the permanent war people without answering to their constituents for it.
Call your Representative now at 202-225-3121. When you reach an operator or leave a message, you can say something like:
“I urge you to vote NO on Engel’s Syria sanctions bill if it is considered under suspension today. Bills that endorse more unconstitutional war should not be fast-tracked through the House.”
When you’ve made your call, please report it in the comments.