Ilhan Omar: U.S. Strategy in Syria Taking ‘Cues’ from Russia, Turkey, Israel

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.

Newsom’s ‘Golden State Start’ promises 400 free diapers per baby as California grapples with budget woes

U.S. military kills two alleged narco-terrorists in lethal strike on drug vessel in Eastern Pacific

Reckoning: Islamic Group with Terror Ties Set to Be Investigated by GOP

Trump Preparing to Fire FDA Commissioner Amid Nicotine Dispute and Pro-Life Outcry: Report

Video shows ICE officers arrest alleged MS-13 gang member described as ‘known suspected terrorist’ in Florida

Lawmaker Slaps Phone Out of Reporter’s Hand During Skirmish Over Data Center Story

Green Politician Wants to Limit Nursing Home Residents to 2.8 Oz of Meat per Week Due to Climate Change – That’s Less Than 1 Big Mac … Per Week

Obama Slammed for ‘Disgusting’ Decision to Speak at Event Organized by Man with Troubling Past

Did You Catch It? Trump’s Nat’l Day of Prayer Message Said Something Vital That No Other Day of Prayer Message Ever Said

Utah Supreme Court justice resigns amid probe into alleged relationship with redistricting attorney

Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Men admitted to all-women’s school, bizarre campus confrontation

James Comey criminal trial over ’86 47′ post set for July 15

Georgia mayor fires entire police department after officers complain about his wife in dispute

Virginia Democrat who helped lead state’s redistricting push also played part in killing it

Declassified Apollo mission UFO files challenge long-running Moon landing conspiracy theories

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.