WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. President Donald Trump’s strategy to resolve the Syrian conflict is taking “cues” from Russia, Turkey, and Israel, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) argued during a House panel hearing Wednesday without acknowledging that the three countries stand on opposing sides of the more than eight-year-old war.
During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Omar told Ambassador James Jeffrey, the president’s special envoy for Syria engagement who was invited to testify:
It seems that the particular conflict in Syria is being birthed out of a need for the people to have freedom and to actualize democracy and I’m concerned that most of our cues right now [are] being taken from Russia, and Turkey, and Israel, and so I’m wondering if that’s sort of a counter message to what we say we are interested in achieving in Syria.
Jeffrey responded by saying the United Nations, backed by the United States, is committed to giving the Syrian people democracy “through free and fair elections monitored by the U.N., including the diaspora.”
“I believe Democracy should not be given, it should be earned by the people, and we should be in partnership with them,” the Minnesota Democrat followed up.
Omar suggested that Russia, Turkey, and Israel are influencing Trump’s Syrian strategy even though these countries do not coincide in their strategy with each other, making it impossible to appease all three.
Kohberger prosecutors say no as Idaho killer tries to boot judge who called him a ‘faceless coward’
Op-Ed from Iranian Kurd: Handing Iraqi Kurdistan to Tehran Would Be a Big Mistake
Jim Jordan Sums Up Progressive Platform in Scathing Takedown: ‘The Left Hates 2 Countries – America and Israel’
Severe turbulence diverts New York City flight to Miami, 8 injured
Could Trump play hardball to prevent an MLB lockout?
Trump cuts $810 million in federal spending he previously approved
Kathy Hochul counts on Mamdani to rev reelection turnout despite GOP attacks
Dem Congressional Candidate Claims She Was Raped While Repairing Campaign Signs and Hid from Her Husband for Days
US Attorney calls out ‘loud-mouth’ California Dems as feds step in with Skid Row drug bust: ‘They’re lunatics’
The powerful way American communities can benefit from the new tech boom revealed by data center CEO
WNBA Suffers Immediate Downturn After Caitlin Clark Is Eliminated from Playoffs
Schumer says he’s not going anywhere, but his own candidates aren’t ready to back him
Mamdani demands Trump release illegal immigrant shot by ICE agent as protests erupt in the Bronx
Personal attacks, Israel, and terrorism define Michigan’s caustic Senate debate
ABC News Targets Trump Family, But Has to Immediately Delete False Story – Was Off by Billions of Dollars
Russia supports the Iranian-allied regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey backs the opposition. Although Moscow and Ankara have embarked on joint efforts to end the conflict, Turkey remains resolute in its support for Assad opposition forces.
The Russia-Turkey agreement late last year to push al-Qaeda-linked jihadis out of Syria’s Idlib region failed, with Moscow blaming Ankara for the lack of success. Now, the jihadis control most of Idlib and some of the surrounding areas — considered the last remaining rebel stronghold in Syria.
Israel has targeted assets on Syrian soil linked to Assad’s ally Iran. Iran considers Israel, which shares a border with Syria, to be its mortal enemy.
Democrat leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have defended Omar from bipartisan criticism over repeated antisemitic remarks.
In his written testimony, Ambassador Jeffrey condemned Russia and Iran for enabling Assad, noting that the Syrian regime has been able to re-conquer 60 percent of the war-ravaged country with the help of Moscow, Tehran, and Iranian proxies like Hezbollah.
Kohberger prosecutors say no as Idaho killer tries to boot judge who called him a ‘faceless coward’
Op-Ed from Iranian Kurd: Handing Iraqi Kurdistan to Tehran Would Be a Big Mistake
Jim Jordan Sums Up Progressive Platform in Scathing Takedown: ‘The Left Hates 2 Countries – America and Israel’
Severe turbulence diverts New York City flight to Miami, 8 injured
Could Trump play hardball to prevent an MLB lockout?
Trump cuts $810 million in federal spending he previously approved
Kathy Hochul counts on Mamdani to rev reelection turnout despite GOP attacks
Dem Congressional Candidate Claims She Was Raped While Repairing Campaign Signs and Hid from Her Husband for Days
US Attorney calls out ‘loud-mouth’ California Dems as feds step in with Skid Row drug bust: ‘They’re lunatics’
The powerful way American communities can benefit from the new tech boom revealed by data center CEO
WNBA Suffers Immediate Downturn After Caitlin Clark Is Eliminated from Playoffs
Schumer says he’s not going anywhere, but his own candidates aren’t ready to back him
Mamdani demands Trump release illegal immigrant shot by ICE agent as protests erupt in the Bronx
Personal attacks, Israel, and terrorism define Michigan’s caustic Senate debate
ABC News Targets Trump Family, But Has to Immediately Delete False Story – Was Off by Billions of Dollars
Jeffrey noted that the Trump administration “is pursuing three mutually reinforcing whole-of-government strategic objectives in Syria – the enduring defeat of ISIS, the removal of all Iranian-led forces from Syria, and the resolution of the Syrian crisis through a political solution.”
Trump inherited the war in Iraq and Syria from former President Barack Obama, who started it in 2014 in response to the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL).
Story cited here.
