The Syrian Conflict

Open email to Sen. Cornyn:

Dear Sen. Cornyn,
    Your form letter below apparently responds to my letter to you of May 6, at which time I gave you a number of reasons why we should not be involved in the Syrian revolution. The last line of my message was, "President Obama has the ability to promulgate our involvement in the Syrian revolution without a formal declaration. It is up to Congress to see that it doesn't happen".
    Apparently you didn't like any of my reasons for our noninvolvement in the Syrian revolution, because you are now beating the war drum. I also note another change in the situation. Pres. Obama seems rather reluctant to become involved, for which I now credit him with at least one aspect of good sense.
    Congressional members are supposed to maintain rationality and consider in their actions all of the attributes necessary to be classified as statesmen acting for the good of the people.
    With the above-stated objective, how would US Government involvement in the Syrian conflict benefit US citizens?
    Let's take a few items that you may not like.
    You say the government has killed 70,000 of its own people. I doubt not only the number but also the basic idea. Think about it. Why would the government kill its own people? If killing is involved, it involves a civil war, in which rebels are attempting to take control of the government. War kills people. If the rebels have no uniforms it doesn't qualify them as civilians. They are still a militant force against the government. Occasionally, there is collateral damage and some innocent children may also be killed. However, that may have also involved parents putting their children at risk in an effort to hide rebel activities, in which case the parents are part of the revolution. If you don't like the killing of those people, what do you plan to do about it? Send in US military forces or supply weapons so that more people are killed?
    You may think that we have an obligation to support the establishment of democracy throughout the world. If so, that is a naïve approach. We have been doing that for years at great sacrifice in manpower and money. What did we accomplish with the Vietnam war? We recently helped the rebels in Egypt. Is Egypt now a democratic country? How about Libya? Iraq? Afghanistan? All great successes in fostering democracy to the poorly deprived people previously under the yoke of autocracy? What about the opposition of the Russians and Chinese in supporting the Syrian rebels? Do you believe Russian and Chinese leaders are stupid or have some ulterior motive that we don't understand. If the latter, why not ask them, before we start throwing more money and equipment into something that apparently is none of our business.?

    Perhaps you don't like chemical weapons. Would you rather see people die of bullet or explosive action rather than chemical action?
    Syria's neighbors are Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan. Do you see these neighbors rushing in to help either the existing Syrian government or the rebels? As a matter of fact, if they did, you would suspect another ulterior motive of territorial expansion and then presumably have another justification for US involvement.
    Sen. Cornyn, I strongly suggest that you are on the wrong track in any action which would promulgate US involvement in the Syrian revolution. May I suggest the alternative of "hands off" and concern yourself with major interests of the United States, such as concentration on reduction of US government size and power.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: SenateWebmail@cornyn.senate.gov [mailto:SenateWebmail@cornyn.senate.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 2:08 PM
To: asucsy@suddenlink.net
Subject: Thank You For Contacting My Office

Dear Dr. Sucsy:   Thank you for contacting me regarding the United States’ policy toward Syria.  I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.   On March 18, 2011, the Syrian people commenced widespread and peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad and his regime.  Subsequently, President Assad and his government forces launched a violent response.  According to the United Nations, as of February 2013, the death toll in Syria is likely near 70,000.  The violent oppression by the Assad regime continues unabated, with the regime failing to deliver promised reforms and instead utilizing overwhelming force against the protestors.     Since August 2011, President Obama has called for Assad’s resignation, supporting United Nations Security Council action to facilitate his removal.  Yet to date, the Security Council has been deadlocked due to obstruction by Russia and China.  I also find it concerning that President Obama would take a hard stance against the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons if he does not into to back it up with concrete steps.  In doing so, the President undermines U.S. credibility and sends confusing messages to our friends and foes alike.   Furthermore, I have pressed the Obama Administration to end all U.S. government business dealings with Rosoboronexport���the Russian state-owned arms broker that facilitates the Russian Federation’s arms transfers to Syria.  I am deeply troubled that the U.S. Army continued to do business with Rosoboronexport, purchasing dozens of dual-use Mi-17 helicopters for the Afghan military, as the atrocities in Syria have continued.  It is unconscionable that U.S. taxpayers would be forced to pay for a contract with a Russian firm that is simultaneously enabling the Assad regime to murder its own people.     Because the Obama Administration ignored my requests, I offered Senate Amendment 3260 to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13 NDAA; P.L. 112-239), which prohibits the use of funding for the U.S. government to enter into any further contracts or business agreements with Rosoboronexport.  I am pleased that this provision was included in the final version of the FY13 NDAA, as signed into law on January 2, 2013.   However, I am deeply troubled that despite this law, reports indicate that the Army plans to enter into a new contract with Rosoboronexport to procure additional helicopters.  As a result, I have twice written to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel calling on him to halt this effort.  You may be certain that I will continue to press the Administration to end these business dealings.   The people of Syria have demonstrated a hunger for freedom, and the United States has a solemn duty to support their human rights and democratic aspirations.  I appreciate having the opportunity to represent Texas in the United States Senate, and I will keep your views in mind as the United States’ policy toward Syria is discussed.  Thank you for taking the time to contact me.   Sincerely, JOHN CORNYN United States Senator     517 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Tel: (202) 224-2934 Fax: (202) 228-2856 http://www.cornyn.senate.gov   Please sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/newsletter.   PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of electronic communication, if you did not receive this e-mail directly from my office, I cannot guarantee that the text has not been altered.  If you have questions about the validity of this message, or would like to respond to this message, please use the web form available at my website, http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact.