Senate panel calls for new US strategy for Syria
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved a non-binding resolution that calls on the Obama administration to provide a new strategy to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution on Tuesday that asks the Obama administration to provide Congress with a humanitarian strategy for Syria within 90 days.
The congressional debate over how to beef up US humanitarian aid to Syria is also revealing congressional frustration about the Obama administration's dealing with Congress on Syria and its inability to bring the war to an end.
The non-binding resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., easily cleared the panel by unanimous voice vote, but a number of senators used the opportunity to express their frustration that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been able to escape justice.
"We have to hold those who are responsible accountable," said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., the driving force behind the Magnitsky Act sanctions targeting Russia and other human rights efforts. "We go through more and more conflicts where at the end of the day, people who caused the problem are left off and nothing's done."
