Senate and House Vote Down Obama's Arming Syria Rebels; He Gives Them the Finger

July 11, 2013 • 10:06AM

Not only did House committees overwhelmingly vote down Obama's plans to arm Syrian rebels in closed meetings a month ago, but the Senate Intelligence Committee put such narrow funding restrictions on such arms transfers in its own closed meeting, as to make it difficult or impossible, the Hill reported July 9.

"It's not clear to me that the administration has a workable policy," said Intelligence Committee member Susan Collins (R-Maine). "We don't have a clear picture of what the decision is by the administration," said James Imhofe (R-Oklahoma).

In the White House briefing that day, spokesman Jay Carney gave them the finger, saying, "In keeping with the President's announcement of our stepped-up assistance to the [Syrian opposition's] Supreme Military Council, we are going to consult with Congress on these matters, and we intend to provide that stepped-up assistance. We were not bluffing. The President was very serious, as I think he made clear."