Congress inches closer to handing Pentagon $350 million for Syrian rebels

Sen. John McCain signs off on aid request blocked after last year's effort ended in a debacle.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) (2ndL) and ranking member Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) (2ndR) listen to testimony by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (C) about operations against the Islamic State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 28, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RTX2C2J5
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., (L) and ranking member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., (R) listen to testimony by US Defense Secretary Ash Carter (C foreground) about operations against the Islamic State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 28, 2016. - REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
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Julian Pecquet
@JPecquet_ALM

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Congress is inching closer to handing the Pentagon another $349 million to train and equip a new group of Syrian rebels after last year's effort ended in abject failure. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., released his hold on the money April 27 just as the House Armed Services Committee was voting to reauthorize the program as part of its defense bill for fiscal year 2017.

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