This week, U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) introduced a War Powers Resolution to direct President Joe Biden to remove the United States Armed Forces from Syria. Since War Powers Resolutions are privileged, the House of Representatives will be forced to vote on Rep. Gaetz’s resolution within 18 days of its introduction.
Rep. Gaetz, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, filed the War Powers Resolution on Tuesday following a February 17th press release from U.S. Central Command, which announced four U.S. servicemembers were wounded during a partnered U.S. and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) helicopter raid in northeastern Syria, ultimately killing a senior ISIS leader.
The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war. To date, Congress has never authorized kinetic participation of U.S. Armed Forces in Syria. Additionally, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, Rep. Gaetz’s War Powers Resolution mandates the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from Syria no later than 15 days after the date of the resolution’s adoption.
Mounting concerns continue to signal that President Biden himself does not have a cognitive grasp on the Syrian conflict. During an August 2021 interview with ABC News on U.S. involvement in the Syria conflict, President Biden stated, “[w]e don’t have military in Syria to make sure that we’re going to be protected.” At the time of the interview, the United States had an estimate of 900 troops in Syria.
“Congress has never authorized the use of military force in Syria. The United States is currently not in a war with or against Syria, so why are we conducting dangerous military operations there? President Biden must remove all U.S. Armed Forces from Syria. America First means actually putting the people of our country first — not the interests of the Military Industrial Complex,” said Congressman Gaetz.
Full text of Congressman Gaetz’s Syria War Powers Resolution can be found HERE. Additionally, exclusive coverage of the resolution by Fox News can be found HERE.
