In this undated file image posted on a militant website on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, fighters from the Islamic State group march in Raqqa, Syria. (Militant Website)
WASHINGTON — The future of President Obama’s proposal to arm Syrian rebels against the Islamic State remained uncertain in the House on Thursday as lawmakers emerged from a briefing on plans by top administration officials.
House members spoke of widespread support in the chamber for an offensive following a classified briefing by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Martin Dempsey, but said the passage of funding bill for Syrian opposition remains uncertain before many leave Washington for midterm election campaigning next week.
The White House maintains Obama has authority to wage much of the long-term fight unveiled Wednesday night that aims to defeat the Islamist group in Iraq and Syria through military strikes, training of opposition forces and assistance from an international coalition.
But administration has conceded it will need Congress’ cooperation to fund Syria rebel groups that have opposed the Islamist group during that country’s three-year civil war.
“The question is, is there a group of people within Syria that can be vetted and proven reliable, that we can put our faith and trust in, to hold ground when we take it?” said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky. “I’m not satisfied yet. We’re still working on it.”
Rogers, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said money for the effort could be included in the upcoming temporary budget bill, called a continuing resolution, if lawmakers support the effort. Congress had hoped to pass this month as a stop-gap measure to keep the government running while an annual budget is hammered out.
Any funding for the Syrian rebels could be included in the continuing resolution but would need to be finalized and added into the continuing resolution before the bill’s passage deadline on Wednesday, Rogers said.
“I hope by next Wednesday we will come up with a procedure by which a good decision can take place on these powers,” he said.
In June, Obama had proposed an annual overseas war budget that included $500 million to arm and train Syrian groups the administration deems politically moderate. At the time, the plan was met with skepticism on Capitol Hill.
But the new plan for offensives was welcomed Thursday by many in Congress, where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had been calling for a more defined strategy and stronger action from Obama following a month of airstrikes and the beheading of two American journalists.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, said he supports arming and training the Syrian rebels but could not gauge overall support in the chamber.
“I support it … it has got a strong possibility,” Smith said.
The offensive was welcomed by many in Congress, where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had been calling for a more defined strategy and stronger action from Obama following a month of air strikes and the beheading of two American journalists.
