cong prog caucus - syria qs

7/29/2019 Cong Prog Caucus - Syria Qs

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CONGRESSIONALPROGRESSIVE CAUCUSSeptember 6, 2013

President Barack ObamaThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave.Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President-Thank you for making Chief of Staff, Denis Mcflonough available to speak with theCongressional Progressive Caucus about Syria. Members of the Caucus have several follow upquestions they were not able to as k on the cal ls . The answers will weigh on Members as theycast their vote. Please provide a response by COB Wednesday, September 11 , 2013, so thatMembers have sufficient time to give your answers the consideration they deserve.For questions or additional information please contact Brad Bauman at 202-225-2435 [email protected].

Sincerely,

Keith EllisonCo-chairCongressional Progressive Caucus Co-chairCongressional Progressive Caucus

Enclosure


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U.S. Security Interests, Evidence and the United Nations1. What is the threat to US national security fitm Assad using chemical weapons in Syria?2. What is the threat to US national security if the US does not use force in Syria?3. What is biggest possible downside if the US DOES NOT attack?4. If the US does not attack, how will it affect our credibility and what impact will that haveon US national security?5. What concerns do you have for Israel if the US does not attack?6. What concerns do you have for Israel if the US does attack?7. Would the administration support an option allowing limited military action that wouldonly be authorized once certain pferequisites have been met?8. What is the role of the Security Council in authorizing use of force?9. What other countries have made a commitment to join in the attack by launching missilesor dropping bombs? What, exactly, have France and Turkey and Kuwait and the UAEpromised to do, if anything?10. The United Nations Charter forbids unilateral military action by any nation againstanother. Does the U.S. proposed attack violate the U.N. Charter?11 . There are 189 signers of the Chemical Weapons Convention. How many of them havepledged to participate in a military intervention in Syria?12 . If we do not attack Syria, will any other nation?13 . What new approaches is the Administration taking towards Russia, Iran, China and other

key actors to advance a political solution or in the case of Russia, in particular, ensurethat their military support for the Syrian regime is reduced or ended, especially in light ofAssads use of chemical weapons against his own people?14 . Why is NATO unwil ling to participate in this attack? Why is the Arab League unwillingto participate in this attack?15 . What the Administration claims Assad has done is a punishable offense underinternational law, and could be prosecuted. Has the Administration taken any actionwithin the International Criminal Court , or any other international body, to bring Bashar

al-Assad to justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity?


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16 . Do we possess any information about the chemical weapons attack that the Britishgovernment did not have in its possession at the time of Parliaments decision to notengage militarily in Syria?17 . What is the status of the United Nations chemical weapons inspectors report on Syria?18 . Can we wait fo r the final report of the UN inspectors before voting on militaryinvolvement in Syria?19 . Has the White House issued a rationale fo r not waiting until the United Nationsinspectors issue their f inal report, as Russian officials have reportedly stated that theymight support a UN resolution after its issuance?20. The Assad regime has denied ordering the chemical weapons attack, and Russia is

backing the regime in that claim. In light of that, will you declassify the evidence that theAssad regime ordered the attack, in order to prove the Administration right and the Assadregime and Russia wrong?21. There has been a report in the media that the Administration has mischaracterized post-attack Syrian military communications, and that these communications actually expressedsurprise about the attack. This is a serious charge. Can you release the originaltranscripts so that the American people can make their own judgment?22. Irans President, Hasan Rouhani, has condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Have you asked Iran to cut offmilitary aid to Syria if Syria does not comply?23. Would the White House support an AUMF resolution that complies with all sections ofthe War Powers Act? Does the President support the War Powers Act?24. How can the Convention on Chemical Weapons be enforced against Syria when Syriahas not signed it? Are there other treaties and conventions that can now be enforcedagainst the United States, even if the United States has not signed them?25. To date, the Administration ha s claimed that the Syrian government has violated

international norms, not international laws. Is the Administration in fact contendingthat the Syrian government has violated international laws? If so , which ones, and how?What is the enforcement mechanism outlined in such laws?26. The statement from UN Diplomat Carla Del Ponte that there is strong, concretesuspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof that rebels seeking to oust Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad had used nerve agents. Has she been contacted regarding her concreteinformation?27. What is our assessment of specific allegations from rebels (who arent fond of Assad) that

the rebels used chemical weapons provided by Prince Bandar


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httv://www.rnintpressnews.com1witnesses-of-gas_attack_say..saudjs_suppljed_re~els_wj~~_chemical-weapons/i 68135/28. What are some possible considerations if Congress takes up authorization for the use ofmilitary force against Syria?29. What other information or intelligence do we have linking the rebels or other non-government forces to the Chemical weapons attack of Aug 21st?30. What are the limits and extent of covert action authorities with respect to Syria?

Effectiveness of Strikes on Syrias Chemical Weapons Capacities31. What is the likelihood that a U.S. military strike will prevent the use ofmore chemical

weapons?32. How will our military action prevent Assad from using chemical weapons again?33. What will the US do if Assad uses more chemical weapons after an attack?34. Could the United States destroy Syrias chemical weapons stocks through military action?What would be needed to secure chemical weapons sites during an intervention?35. Does the contemplated attack include an attack on actual stocks of chemical weapons?

Regardless of whether it does or not, do we know with certitude where every stockpile ofchemical weapons in Syria is stored? If not, do we risk the spread of these chemicals andmore deaths?Impact on Syrians and Syrian Civil War

36. Who are the Syrian rebels?37. What evidence do we have that the rebels are not al Qaeda?38. Everyone keeps saying that there is only a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Howdoes the Administration see these limited military strikes advancing a political solution?39. If the U.S. engages in military strikes against the Assad regime, what strategies will itdeployto mitigate harm to the civilian population? What strategies will it deploy tomitigate harm to the civilian population by the Assad regime after the U.S. has carriedout its military strikes?40. Several wayward military strikes in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan had high civiliancasualties which created significant blowback against the U.S. and severely eroded our

reputation. Have you considered that events might occur during a U.S. missile strike such


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as a mosque blowing up, street fair, or school (instigated by Assad, Al-Qaeda, or AlNour) that the U.S. could be blamed for?41. Have any members of the Syrian opposition called for such an attack? If so , whom? Ifnot, why not?42. Will this U.S. military action in Syria end the civil war? Will it overthrow the Assadregime? Will it eliminate the Assad regimes capability to engage in future chemicalweapons attacks?43. The Pentagon estimates that there are between 800 and 1,200 rebel groups currentlyactive in Syria. Some of them support ajihad against the United States. How can wepossibly control, or even influence, which one benefits most from our involvement inSyria?44. Three months ago, the Administration said that it would arm the Syrian rebels. Theyhave not yet been armed. Wouldnt it be more effective and prudent to arm the rebelsthan to launch a unilateral attack?45. The International Crisis Group, one of few international organizations with alongstanding presence on the ground in Syria, is unequivocal that diplomatic effortscannot be re-energized in the wake of a U.S. attack. Is that correct?US military action inIraq devastated the health infrastructure of the country, what precautions have been putinto place to ensure this will not happen in Syria? Are emergency care locationsequipped to handle a rise in casualties? Do you anticipate an exodus of health care

professionals, such as we saw in Iraq? Will you commit funding to provide necessarycare to injured Syrian civilians?46. Since civilian casualties have led you here before us today, will you commit to the peopleof the United States that no civilian deaths will occur in whatever military strike takesplace in Syria? Do you have an estimate of such deaths? If so , what is it?47. What have been some of the possible humanitarian policy considerations for Congress todate? V/hat effect might military action have on the humanitarian crisis?48. If the goal is to relieve the suffering of Syrian civilians, wouldnt humanitarian aid torefugees be more effective than launching a military attack? Would a missile strike inSyria help any of the more than two million Syrian refugees from this civil war?49. With the administrations commendable concern fo r the lives of the Syrian people andthe fate that many have already suffered at the hands of their own government, is theadministration prepared to allow more Syrian refugees into the US? How many peoplewould get asylum? Has the administration considered proposals to allow those withfamily members in the US to join them, or to increase the number of student visasavailable for those whose studies have been disrupted by the war?


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50. On September 3, the UNHCR reported that it had received less than half of the fundsneeded to address basic refugee needs. Since any U.S. military actions in Syria are likelyto exacerbate the humanitarian needs across the region, will the administration be willingto help correct this shortfall? Have any allies committed to providing additional funding?What pressure could be placed on Russia, which so far has committed only $10 millionUSD?

Responses to a US Attack51. What is the range of responses we can expect from Syria if we attack?52. What are Syrias options regarding a counterattack? What has been done to forestall such

a counterattack?53. Is it possible that a US attack on Syria will result in a Syrian attack on Israel, similar to

what happened when the United States attacked Iraq? Could such an attack be achemical attack? What would be the appropriate US response?54. What will Iran do if we attack?55. Do Syria and Hezbollah have the means to launch a counterattack against US vessels inthe Mediterranean? How about the US Embassy in Beirut?56. Is it possible that Russian military advisers in Syria will by killed by this U.S. attack?What is the appropriate U.S. response if Russia comes to the aid of Syria militarily?57. While the civil war in Syria has been in the spotlight fo r the past two years, another civilwar in Sudan has been going on for much longer. The administration is eager to punishthe Assad Regime for using chemical weapons with military force, citing a moralstandard. Why wasnt the administration actively seeking authorization for military forcein Sudan while the Sudanese government was trying to ethnically cleanse the non-Arabpopulation in Darfiir?58. How does the administration intend to keep the United States out of a broader, ongoingmilitary engagement in Syria if any of the following occur in response to the proposedAmerican military strike? Would additional Congressional authorization be sought underany of these scenarios?Syria launches additional chemical attacks on areas controlled by rebels;Syria or Hezbollah attack American interests such as our embassies in Lebanon, Israel,or Jordan;Syria, Iran, or Hezbollah launch missile strikes into Israel, killing Israeli civi lians; orRussia increases znilitaiy support.for the Syrian regime to ensure Assad s survival andvictory.


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Cost ofMilitary Action Against Syria59. What funding sources are available for U.S. military intervention in Syria?60. Will military action in Syria require a supplemental appropriation? If you think not, then

will you commit now not to request one?61. The Congressional Research Service estimated that the total cost of using force againstSyria could reach between $500 million and $12 billion. Is the White House operatingunder the same cost estimates? How is the White Houses estimate on cost derived?62. What accounts will be used to cover the costs of any military action?63. What is the estimated financial contribution of U.S. allies, by county, to any potentialmilitary action against Syria?64. What is the cost per missile that would be used in the proposed military strike?65. What is estimated total U.S. foreign assistance to Syria, including efforts to assistrefligees fleeing the confl ic t? What is the estimate for FY14? Are there any pendingfunding requests submitted by the Administration that have not been approved?66. What is the estimated total international assistance being provided to Syrian refugees, andwho are the principal donors?67. What are the range and factors that would affect the potential cost of U.S. militaryintervention in Syria?

cong prog caucus - syria qs

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