From Tulsi Gabbard
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Returns From Syria with Renewed Calls: End Regime Change War in Syria
January 25, 2017
Press Release
Washington, DC—Congresswoman
Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) returned to Washington, DC after a week-long
visit to Damascus, Aleppo, and Beirut to see and hear firsthand the
impact of the war in Syria directly from the Syrian people. She heard
stories of suffering, pain, courage and hope from people all across the
country. She met with refugees, Syrian opposition leaders who led
protests in 2011, widows and family members of Syrians fighting
alongside groups like al-Qaeda, as well as those fighting on the side of
the government. The Congresswoman also met with Lebanon’s newly-elected
President Aoun and Prime Minister Hariri, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon
Elizabeth Richard, Syrian President Assad, Grand Mufti Hassoun,
Archbishop Denys Antoine Chahda of Syrian Catholic Church of Aleppo,
humanitarian workers, students, small business owners, and more.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard released the following statement upon her return:
“My
visit to Syria has made it abundantly clear: Our counterproductive
regime change war does not serve America’s interest, and it certainly
isn’t in the interest of the Syrian people.
“As
I visited with people from across the country, and heard heartbreaking
stories of how this war has devastated their lives, I was asked, ‘Why is
the United States and its allies helping al-Qaeda and other terrorist
groups try to take over Syria? Syria did not attack the United States.
Al-Qaeda did.’ I had no answer.
“I
return to Washington, DC with even greater resolve to end our illegal
war to overthrow the Syrian government. I call upon Congress and the new
Administration to answer the pleas of the Syrian people immediately and
support the Stop Arming Terrorists Act. We must stop directly and
indirectly supporting terrorists—directly by providing weapons, training
and logistical support to rebel groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and
ISIS; and indirectly through Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, and Turkey,
who, in turn, support these terrorist groups. We must end our war to
overthrow the Syrian government and focus our attention on defeating
al-Qaeda and ISIS.
“From
Iraq to Libya and now in Syria, the U.S. has waged wars of regime
change, each resulting in unimaginable suffering, devastating loss of
life, and the strengthening of groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.
“Originally,
I had no intention of meeting with Assad, but when given the
opportunity, I felt it was important to take it. I think we should be
ready to meet with anyone if there’s a chance it can help bring about an
end to this war, which is causing the Syrian people so much suffering.
“The
U.S. must stop supporting terrorists who are destroying Syria and her
people. The U.S. and other countries fueling this war must stop
immediately. We must allow the Syrian people to try to recover from this
terrible war.”
Above: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
met these children at a shelter in Aleppo. Their families fled the
eastern part of the city. Many of these children have only known war,
loss and hardship. Their families’ only wish is for peace. Photo
courtesy of Abraham Williams.
Above: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
meets with Syrian religious leaders in Aleppo, led by Archbishop Denys
Antoine Chahda of the Syrian Catholic Church of Aleppo, and joined by
Archbishop Joseph Tabji of Maronite Church of Aleppo, Rev. Ibrahim Nseir
of the Arab Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Aleppo, and others. Each
called for peace, and an end to foreign support of terrorists who are
trying to rid Syria of its secular, pluralistic, free society. Photo
courtesy of Abraham Williams.
Above: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
met these women at the Barzi Community Center. Many of these women have
husbands who are fighting on opposite sides of the war, but who find
friendship and empowerment together in their daily sewing classes. They
have hope to be able to provide for their family and take care of their
children. When asked, "Where is your husband?" many reply, "He is
lost." Photo courtesy of Abraham Williams.
Above:
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard visits with Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other
humanitarian workers at the Jibreen shelter, housing nearly 1,400
families who fled mostly the eastern part of Aleppo City. Photo courtesy
of Abraham Williams.
Background: Rep.
Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) is a twice-deployed combat veteran who has served
as the United States Representative for Hawaiʻi's 2nd congressional
district since 2013. As a member of the House Armed Services and Foreign
Affairs Committees, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard traveled to Lebanon and Syria as
part of a delegation led and sponsored by the Arab American Community
Center for Economic and Social Services (AACCESS)–Ohio. The 7-day trip
was approved by the House Ethics Committee, as required by House rules,
and was not taxpayer funded. The trip included visits to Aleppo,
Damascus, and Beirut from January 14-22, 2017. Other members of the
delegation included former Congressman and Presidential candidate Dennis
Kucinich and his wife, longtime peace advocates Elie and Bassam Khawam,
and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's husband, Abraham Williams.
Earlier this year, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act (H.R.608), legislation
that would prohibit U.S. government funds from being used to support
al-Qaeda, ISIS or other terrorist groups. In the same way that Congress
passed the Boland Amendment to prohibit the funding and support to CIA
backed-Nicaraguan Contras during the 1980’s, this bill would stop CIA or
other Federal government activities in places like Syria by ensuring
U.S. funds are not used to support al-Qaeda, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, ISIS,
or other terrorist groups working with them. It would also prohibit the
Federal government from funding assistance to countries that are
directly or indirectly supporting those terrorist groups. The bill
achieves this by:
- Making it illegal for any U.S. Federal government funds to be used to provide assistance covered in this bill to terrorists. The assistance covered includes weapons, munitions, weapons platforms, intelligence, logistics, training, and cash.
- Making it illegal for the U.S. government to provide assistance covered in the bill to any nation that has given or continues to give such assistance to terrorists.
- Requiring the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to determine the individual and groups that should be considered terrorists, for the purposes of this bill, by determining: (a) the individuals and groups that are associated with, affiliated with, adherents to or cooperating with al-Qaeda, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, or ISIS; (b) the countries that are providing assistance covered in this bill to those individuals or groups.
- Requiring the DNI to review and update the list of countries and groups to which assistance is prohibited every six months, in consultation with the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, as well as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
- Requiring the DNI to brief Congress on the determinations.
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