Democratic Discontent With White House Syria Policy Growing

[Purveyor]

BY DEB RIECHMANN
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic discontent with the U.S. strategy in Syria is growing, with some of President Barack Obama's supporters in Congress questioning what he is doing to fight Islamic State militants, stem the exodus of Syrian refugees and find a political solution to the conflict.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., on Monday said the beleaguered U.S. program to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels to fight IS should be scrapped. Gen. Lloyd Austin, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, told Congress earlier this month that only four or five trained fighters are battling the militants - significantly short of the U.S. goal to train 5,000.

Moreover, the U.S. military said a trained Syrian rebel commander had surrendered six trucks and ammunition, supplied by the U.S.-led coalition, to an intermediary linked to the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria. U.S. Central Command said the items - roughly 25 percent of the equipment assigned to that unit - apparently were handed over in exchange for safe passage within the region.

"For those of us who opposed the Syria train-and-equip program from the start, our predictions that our assistance would end up aiding mortal enemies of the U.S. like al-Qaida are now coming true," Murphy said in calling for the demise of the program, for which Congress put up an initial $500 million.

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[Hortensis]

1. The vast majority of Democrats don't just have no idea what's

going on in the middle east, they couldn't find Syria or Iran on a map given multiple tries. As for Democratic members of Congress, they're concerned with winning the next election. "Drop bigger bombs SOMEWHERE, Mr. President, growl during speeches and send more troops, because I need the help.