[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 200 (Wednesday, December 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 738--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
 UNITED STATES SHOULD CONTINUE ITS LIMITED MILITARY ACTIVITIES WITHIN 
SYRIA AND THAT ENDING SUCH ACTIVITIES AT THIS TIME WOULD EMBOLDEN ISIS, 
 BASHAR AL-ASSAD, IRAN, AND RUSSIA AND PUT OUR KURDISH ALLIES IN GREAT 
                                JEOPARDY

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cotton, Mrs. Ernst, Mr. 
Rubio, Mr. King, Mr. Corker, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 738

       Whereas ISIS has been dealt a serious blow in Iraq and 
     Syria and is substantially damaged but not yet defeated;
       Whereas the United States has a limited military presence 
     in Syria with approximately 2,000 troops who serve as an 
     insurance policy against future threats;
       Whereas a precipitous withdrawal of United States Armed 
     Forces from Syria will embolden radical jihadist groups in 
     Syria and in the region;
       Whereas it is in the vital national interest of the United 
     States to continue to support partners, such as the Kurds, in 
     Syria and other locations in the Global War on Terror;
       Whereas a United States withdrawal will embolden the brutal 
     dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad and bring more suffering to 
     the people of Syria and the region;
       Whereas a precipitous withdrawal of United States Armed 
     Forces from Syria could lead to the release of hundreds of 
     foreign terrorists currently detained by the Syrian 
     Democratic Forces; and
       Whereas it is in the national security interest of the 
     United States to counter Iran's and Russia's influence in 
     Syria and throughout the region: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) calls on the President to reconsider his decision to 
     withdraw United States Armed Forces from Syria at this time; 
     and
       (2) urges any future decision to withdraw United States 
     Armed Forces from Syria to be the result of a robust 
     interagency process and to be conditions-based.

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