Win Without War Statement on Passage of the McKeon Amendment to Authorize Arming & Training of Syrian Rebels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 17, 2014 

CONTACT: 
Stephen Miles, Advocacy Director
(504) 289-3594[email protected]

Win Without War Statement on Passage of the McKeon Amendment to Authorize Arming & Training of Syrian Rebels

Washington, DC- The Win Without War coalition released the following statement by Advocacy Director, Stephen Miles, in response to the House passage of Congressman Buck McKeon’s amendment to authorize the arming and training of so-called ‘moderate’ Syrian rebels.
 “Today’s vote is disappointing but not surprising. The Middle East is on fire but, instead of looking for ways to put the fire out, Congress has voted to pour gasoline on it. 

Just as Congress voted to go to war in Iraq twelve years ago, today a majority of Congress allowed fear, and the desire to tell voters that they are doing something, trump asking tough questions and demanding honest answers. We are appreciative of those Members of Congress who voted today to put the brakes on our rush back into another open-ended war in the Middle East, particularly since there is no imminent threat to the United States.

This is not the check and balance that the Founders envisioned when they entrusted the power to declare war to Congress. While we applaud the House of Representatives for having a robust, six hour debate and separate vote on this issue, we are deeply concerned with reports that the Senate may simply pass this authorization as part of the continuing resolution to fund the government with little to no debate and no separate vote. Congress must not allow politics to trump its constitutional responsibility to fully debate and weigh whether or not America goes to war.”

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Win Without War is a coalition of national organizations with diverse constituencies originally founded in opposition to the Iraq War. The coalition remains active in opposition to the continued U.S. war in Afghanistan, the dangerous rush to war with Iran, and the underlying national security strategy on which these conflicts are based. We seek a fundamentally new approach to meet the national security challenges of the United States that is consistent with our nation’s highest values. 

For more information visit www.winwithoutwar.org