Pryor Questions Administration's Proposal on Syria
Press Release
uring an Appropriations Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor questioned the Administration's proposal to spend half a billion dollars on training and equipment for undefined opposition groups in Syria. Pryor then urged his colleagues to support his amendment to strike the provision.
"I have serious concerns about sending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars for equipment and training for Syrian opposition forces. That means giving weapons and ammunition to groups that have no leader, no uniform, no principles for protecting civilians or helping allies, and no idea how to work together as a fighting force," Pryor said. "In these circumstances, there's too much chance these weapons could fall into the hands of extremists and be used against us."
Under the Administration's proposal, the Department of Defense would be authorized to provide $500 million in training and equipment to "appropriately vetted" Syrian opposition groups. Pryor's amendment would strike the Administration's request in favor of more effective counterterrorism efforts.
"Do my colleagues sincerely believe these weapons and training are going to be used to fight terrorists? I don't. We have no way of enforcing this proposal or confirming these "appropriately vetted' groups' intentions. These are admirable sentiments, but empty promises," Pryor said. "I don't think the Obama Administration has justified how this serves our national security interests or why we need to spend our taxpayer dollars arming Syrian rebels."
The amendment was not accepted by a vote of 9-21. Supporters included Senators Mark Begich (D-AK), John Boozman (R-AR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Tom Udall (D-NM).
The Train and Equip Program provides equipment such as night-vision goggles, small arms, light weapons and ammunition to military forces in foreign countries to help with counter-terrorism training or stability operations. In 2010, Senator Pryor introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to improve accountability of this program and put checks in place to prevent U.S. weapons from ending up in the wrong hands.
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