Stupid Senate Committee votes to arm "moderate" Syrian rebels
fuckwads.
A key Senate committee overwhelmingly approved legislation that calls on the U.S. to provide small arms to moderate Syrian opposition groups, underscoring growing sentiment among lawmakers for a change in the U.S. approach to the conflict.
The 15-3 vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee showed broad support from both Democrats and Republicans for arming the rebels, though the legislation has to go through many more votes to be adopted, and even then wouldn't compel the administration to provide arms. Some lawmakers from each party voiced concern over the difficulty of ensuring weapons aren't misused and won't slip into the hands of radical Islamists aligned with al Qaeda.
The vote came as the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, fighting alongside militants from Iran-backed Hezbollah, engaged in a third day of an offensive on the rebel-held city of Qusayr—a battle that, if won by government forces, could give a significant strategic boost to the regime. The Obama administration also fears that if the rebels lose control of Qusayr, Mr. Assad's forces will retaliate against local residents, a senior State Department official said.
"Vital national interests are at stake and we cannot watch from the sidelines," said the Foreign Relations Committee's chairman, Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who introduced the Senate bill.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324787004578497431182221210.html