Republican Congressman King Opposes US Arms to Syrian Rebels

Andrew Parasiliti

Jun 5, 2013

U.S. Representative Peter King (R-NY) (R) and Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ) talk to the media after meeting with House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to discuss the relief fund hold up in Congress for Hurricane Sandy victims at the United States Capitol in Washington January 2, 2013. REUTERS/Gary Cameron (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3C23T — New York Republican Rep. Peter King, seen here on Jan. 2, 2013, in Washington, told Al-Monitor on June 4 that a Syria linked to al-Qaeda would be more dangerous to the United States than Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. — REUTERS/Gary Cameron

Congressman Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Sub-Committee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, opposes providing US arms to Syrian rebel forces because of the growing influence of Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda affiliates among them.

“I don’t support giving aid to the rebels,” King said in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor in his Washington office June 4.