At the same time that the Obama administration is trying to find a solution on Syria, officials complain that Washington has no leverage over the Assad regime, Russia and Iran, which would force them to stop their ongoing atrocities, especially in Aleppo. But in fact the White house is secretly trying to soften the bill on sanctions, which, according to legislators from among both parties, will give the opportunity to influence all three of these countries.
According to legislators and staff representing both parties, the White house is secretly trying to limit the Act on the protection of the civilian population in Syria (Syria Caesar Civilian Protection Act) prepared by both parties the bill providing for sanctions against the Assad regime for the mass torture, mass murder, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The bill, which deals with the promotion prominent Democrat from the state of new York and member of the foreign Affairs Committee of the house of representatives Eliot Engel (Eliot Engel) also provides for sanctions against entities that provide assistance to the Syrian government committing these atrocities, that may affect Russia and Iran.
The authors of the bill, named after a Syrian defector (which introduced the world to the 55 thousand photographs of employees documentary evidence of mass torture carried out by the Assad regime and the killing of more than 11 thousands of civilians in custody) are 70 congressmen, most of them Democrats.
The house of representatives was to consider the bill at the end of last month, but White appealed to the legislators from the 11-hour appeal, asking to postpone the vote. According to a White house statement, the vote could harm the existing agreement with Moscow on a cease-fire in Syria, and Democrats decided not to pass the law, said one of the initiators of the bill, Republican from Illinois, Adam Kinzinger (Adam Kinzinger).
Now the White house says members of the house of representatives and staff that under the bill sanctions against Iran could violate the agreement on the nuclear program, negotiated by the Obama administration with Iran last year. And new sanctions against Russia will negatively affect the attempts of diplomats to negotiate with Moscow on Syria.
“There is a crazy idea that you can achieve peace in Syria without this “otherwise”. Probably the thing in this “otherwise,” said Kinzinger. The people who are helping the regime, would show that law and say, “until you stop the fire, it can be a means of sanctions pressure””.
Press Secretary angel refused to comment on the ongoing negotiations between the White house and angel on the bill on sanctions. But in his statement, the angel emphasized the importance of the bill on sanctions against countries that help the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to commit bloody crimes.
“I’m talking about your bill with the administration, and I will continue to work to resolve differences, said the angel. For me it’s simple: we need more tools to take tough measures against the Assad regime, as well as any man or state who help him to commit systematic violence.”
Two Syrian activist who met with the staff of the democratic leader in the house of representatives Nancy Pelosi (Nancy Pelosi), representing California, told me that, according to the employee of Pelosi, the chances that the bill will be voted on this year, almost none. And assistant democratic leadership does not agree with the activists appreciated the meeting, and noted that to apply in respect of this bill, the suspension of action rules Pelosi has never officially agreed.
The speaker of the house of representatives a Republican from Wisconsin Paul Ryan (Paul Ryan) and the majority leader of the house of representatives a Republican from California Kevin McCarthy (Kevin McCarthy) support the bill. Ryan during his weekly briefing on September 22 accused the White house that turns a blind eye to war crimes in Syria.
“The Assad regime did not cease to commit atrocities against the Syrian people,’ said Ryan. — So I was so worried that the White house blocks prepared by the representatives of both parties, a bill to impose new sanctions against the Assad regime”.
Noting that the initial pretext in order to postpone the vote — a ceasefire — is no longer relevant, Ryan urged the White house to allow Democrats to support a vote on the bill.
“And what excuse will be now? It’s not a game. I think that the administration actually protects some of the world’s most feared war criminals,” he said.
Aides to lawmakers, Democrats note that Ryan and McCarthy have the right to put sanctions on the discussion and without the consent of Democrats. For this, you will need to follow the usual order, namely, to hold a debate in the house of representatives and the voting procedure, which will require additional time. In addition, this would put Republicans in an awkward position, as they will be put on the discussion of the bill, the initiators of which are Democrats and not supporting the democratic party leadership.
Kinzinger said Republicans are waiting for the results of negotiations between the administration and the angel, but warned that Republicans would not support the bill if the White house will soften it, making the document a fundamental change.
“I am ready to make any changes necessary to obtain the consent of that really effective, but if attempts will be made to make the bill toothless, they will struggle to spend it,” he said.
The version of the bill, which was approved on a bilateral basis in the house of representatives Committee on foreign Affairs in July, involves the introduction of new sanctions against Assad and his supporters. Such a law would expedite the investigation, which would allow us to prosecute for war crimes in Syria, and would also help in the search process out of the crisis through negotiations. In particular, in accordance with this law, the President should impose new sanctions on entities that have business and financial ties with the Syrian authorities or Syrian military or intelligence agencies that might relate to Iran and Russia. In addition, the bill in its original version provides for the imposition of sanctions against those institutions that maintain business relations with companies operating in several sectors of the economy of Syria, which is controlled by the Syrian government — such as transport, telecommunications and energy sector.
Stephen RAPP (Stephen Rapp), who until recently was the special representative of the US state Department on issues of war crimes, said that Washington should put the Assad regime, Russia and Iran, in fact, for war crimes they commit in Syria, they will be held accountable.
“It is important to send a signal that those who commit war crimes and those who aid in the Commission of, and incitement to, will be brought to justice with the help of effective tools and in the short term, the most effective would be sanctions, he said. The white house should not prevent the adoption of this law. Congress is doing everything right. This bill was developed by the representatives of both parties.”
A spokesman for the White house Josh Ernest said last week: “due To the discussed the legislative proposal of the members of Congress we are concerned that it provides for the imposition of these sanctions, in fact, unilaterally”. Press Secretary of the national security Council declined to comment on the talks the White house on the question of the adoption of this law.
When it came to Iran, the Obama administration opposed sanctions, but Congress persevered and approved them, despite the objections of President Obama. Other Federal States have followed suit, and these sanctions are allowed to exert pressure that finally brought Iran to the negotiating table. Subsequently, when the Obama administration announced the conclusion of an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, it is attributed to himself the merit of these sanctions.
For the imposition of sanctions against Syria, the Obama administration should allow the legislative process and to adopt the instrument of pressure offered by legislators. At best Obama can negotiate from a position of strength. But, at least, at least one organ of state, the U.S. government has done everything to try to stop the mass atrocities committed against the civilian population of Syria.
