This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/senators-unleash-criticism-of-obama-administration-over-handling-of-war-in-syria/2014/03/26/dd4da610-b524-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html?wprss=rss_national-security

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Senators unleash criticism of Obama administration over handling of war in Syria Senators unleash criticism of Obama administration over handling of war in Syria
(about 1 hour later)
Lawmakers unleashed a bipartisan barrage of criticism at the Obama administration Wednesday over Syria, charging it had no strategy to reverse the course of a war that President Bashar al-Assad appears to be winning, or to stem the growing threat from extremists who dominate the anti-Assad opposition. Lawmakers unleashed a bipartisan barrage of criticism at the Obama administration Wednesday over Syria, charging that it had no strategy to reverse the course of a war that President Bashar al-Assad appears to be winning, or to stem the growing threat from extremists who dominate the anti-Assad opposition.
Anne Patterson, the State Department’s senior diplomat on the Middle East, largely agreed with the specifics raised at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, saying, “We’re not doing enough to help the moderate opposition.” Overall, she acknowledged, administration policy is working “not very well.”Anne Patterson, the State Department’s senior diplomat on the Middle East, largely agreed with the specifics raised at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, saying, “We’re not doing enough to help the moderate opposition.” Overall, she acknowledged, administration policy is working “not very well.”
But when Patterson said that questions about possible U.S. military options in Syria could be discussed only in a classified hearing, the senior senators of both parties exploded.But when Patterson said that questions about possible U.S. military options in Syria could be discussed only in a classified hearing, the senior senators of both parties exploded.
“Major baloney,” shouted Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the ranking Republican. “That would indicate to people that we actually have a military strategy relative to Syria. That could not be further from the truth . . . that’s the most major, misleading baloney I’ve heard since I’ve been in the U.S. Senate.” “Major baloney,” shouted Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the ranking Republican on the panel. “That would indicate to people that we actually have a military strategy relative to Syria. That could not be further from the truth . . . that’s the most major, misleading baloney I’ve heard since I’ve been in the U.S. Senate.”
“I’m not going to be bullied into answering this,” Patterson replied.“I’m not going to be bullied into answering this,” Patterson replied.
“I assure you the administration has no military options on the table,” Corker countered. “What is your strategy? I don’t see that we have one other than letting people kill each other off.”“I assure you the administration has no military options on the table,” Corker countered. “What is your strategy? I don’t see that we have one other than letting people kill each other off.”
The snappish session marked the public return to a controversial subject that has been pushed from headlines in recent weeks by Ukraine and the missing Malaysian airliner.The snappish session marked the public return to a controversial subject that has been pushed from headlines in recent weeks by Ukraine and the missing Malaysian airliner.
Although Patterson said the administration is reviewing its policy in Syria, senior officials in the administration and allied foreign governments have acknowledged that there are few new ideas on the table. Assad remains in power — with help from Russia and Iran — nearly three years after President Obama said he must step down.Although Patterson said the administration is reviewing its policy in Syria, senior officials in the administration and allied foreign governments have acknowledged that there are few new ideas on the table. Assad remains in power — with help from Russia and Iran — nearly three years after President Obama said he must step down.
What the administration calls the “moderate” and largely secular rebel fighters are divided and increasingly overwhelmed by al-Qaeda-linked opposition groups, about which U.S. intelligence has expressed growing concern. The largely secular opposition that the administration calls the “moderate” rebel fighters is divided and increasingly overwhelmed by al-Qaeda-linked opposition groups, and U.S. intelligence has expressed growing concern about the situation.
No further peace negotiations are planned after U.S.-backed talks failed in January in Geneva.No further peace negotiations are planned after U.S.-backed talks failed in January in Geneva.
Although Obama’s “red line” of Assad’s chemical weapons use was crossed last year, a planned U.S. air strike was called off. The United States and Russia subsequently negotiated Assad’s agreement to relinquish the weapons in a process that has proceeded slowly but somewhat successfully. Although Obama’s “red line” of Assad’s chemical weapons use was crossed last year, a planned U.S. airstrike was called off. The United States and Russia subsequently negotiated Assad’s agreement to relinquish the weapons in a process that has proceeded slowly but somewhat successfully.
With no appetite for direct military intervention, administration efforts to arm opposition fighters under a covert but less-than-secret CIA program has had little momentum. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the primary weapons providers, although they disagree — despite U.S. efforts to bring them together — over which opposition groups to aid. With no appetite for direct military intervention, administration efforts to arm opposition fighters in a covert but less-than-secret CIA program have had little momentum. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the primary weapons providers, although they disagree — despite U.S. efforts to bring them together — about which opposition groups to aid.
Meanwhile, at least 140,000 civilians are believed to have been killed, and the surrounding countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq are overwhelmed with millions of Syrian refugees. A U.N. Security Council resolution in January that ordered combatants on all sides to stop blocking humanitarian aid to besieged communities in Syria has had little apparent effect.Meanwhile, at least 140,000 civilians are believed to have been killed, and the surrounding countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq are overwhelmed with millions of Syrian refugees. A U.N. Security Council resolution in January that ordered combatants on all sides to stop blocking humanitarian aid to besieged communities in Syria has had little apparent effect.
Committee Chairman Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) set the stage for Corker’s incredulity when he opened the hearing by asking Patterson whether the administration is considering “any military actions that could change the calculus that Assad cannot win militarily.” Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the committee chairman, set the stage for Corker’s incredulity when he opened the hearing by asking Patterson whether the administration is considering “any military actions that could change the calculus that Assad” can win a military victory.
After a bit of testy back and forth, Patterson said she “wouldn’t be at liberty to discuss issues in a pre-decisional stage” that would be “of a classified nature.” After a bit of testy back-and-forth, Patterson said she “wouldn’t be at liberty to discuss issues in a pre-decisional stage” that would be “of a classified nature.”
“I have a problem with a generic answer to a generic question that I can’t believe is classified,” Menendez said. In his experience, he said, “what I read in the press is what I hear in these [classified] hearings.”“I have a problem with a generic answer to a generic question that I can’t believe is classified,” Menendez said. In his experience, he said, “what I read in the press is what I hear in these [classified] hearings.”
In one of the few moments of respite for Patterson, Sen. Timothy M. Kaine (D-Va.) pointed out that, while the committee last year approved a U.S. military strike, both the full Senate and the House indicated that they would not. “If we’re going to be frustrated, we should be frustrated,” Kaine said. “But Congress pretty much said they didn’t support it.” In one of the few moments of respite for Patterson, Sen. Timothy M. Kaine (D-Va.) pointed out that, while the committee last year gave approval for a U.S. military strike, both the full Senate and the House had indicated they would not. “If we’re going to be frustrated, we should be frustrated,” Kaine said. “But Congress pretty much said they didn’t support it.”
Thomas M. Countryman, assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation, who testified with Patterson, said that after a number of delays, about half of Syria’s declared chemical weapons have been removed from the country under the U.S.-Russia deal.Thomas M. Countryman, assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation, who testified with Patterson, said that after a number of delays, about half of Syria’s declared chemical weapons have been removed from the country under the U.S.-Russia deal.
“We believe there are no obstacles to completing the removal of the declared stockpile in the month of April,” Countryman said. Plans to destroy the weapons by the end of June will be “on time or very close,” he said.“We believe there are no obstacles to completing the removal of the declared stockpile in the month of April,” Countryman said. Plans to destroy the weapons by the end of June will be “on time or very close,” he said.