Obama Seeks Authority to Equip, Train ’Moderate’ Syria Rebels

Local Editor

Congressional Democrats were drafting legislation on Wednesday that would authorize the US military to equip and train "moderate" Syrian rebels in an effort to reverse advances by so-called "Daesh" [ISIL].

US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told colleagues, "It's clear to me that we need to train and equip Syrian rebels and other groups in the Middle East that need some help."

"The president has tried to get that [authority] from us, and we should give it to him," Reid said.

Republicans have resisted the move, arguing US President Barack Obama was trying to enact a "complicated policy change" without full congressional debate.

In late June, the White House asked lawmakers for $500 million to train and equip vetted Syrian rebels, in what would be a significant escalation of US involvement in the conflict.

Reid noted that some Republicans remain concerned about the cost, particularly before Obama lays out his strategy, but he claimed that "there is money to do" the training.

On Thursday, the White House released details of Obama's phone call with Saudi King Abdullah in which "the president and the king agreed on the need for increased training and equipping of the [so-called] "moderate" Syrian opposition."

Lawmakers are hastily cobbling together a temporary spending bill known as a continuing resolution [CR] that would fund the government at current levels until December, and Democrats want the rebel-training authority to be slotted into that legislation.

However, Republicans, who control the House and its proceedings, are loathe to move forward until Obama lays out his plan.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team