Opposition To Arming Syrian Rebels Growing In U.S. House

July 2, 2013 • 9:17AM

President Obama's decision to provide arms to "vetted" armed opposition groups fighting the Syrian regime of Bashar al Assad may have caused a change in attitude among a significant portion of the membership of the U.S. House. That's the implication, today, of an extensive article in The Hill,, on the growing opposition in the House to Obama's plan. The article covers the several pieces of legislation that have been introduced, along with last week's bipartisan press conference among four members who are opposed to greater U.S. military involvement in Syria. The article even notes that Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) has introduced a resolution calling for Obama's impeachment if he goes to war in Syria without Congressional authorization.

In the midst of covering all of that ferment, The Hill's Jeremy Herb reports that, according to an unnamed defense analyst, the FY14 defense appropriations bill has not come to the house floor, in part because of concerns about amendments "that could tie the president's hands in Syria." Last month, an amendment to the defense authorization bill to remove language calling on the president to consider "all courses of action" to remove Assad from power was easily defeated. The difference now? Obama has made the decision to arm the rebels, but, according to most polls, 70 percent of Americans oppose that decision.