Senate Passes Mideast Policy Bill Asking Trump Not to Withdraw US Troops from Syria

Steve Warren
02-06-2019

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The Senate passed a Mideast policy bill Tuesday, including specific language that asks President Trump not to withdraw troops from Afghanistan or Syria.

The measure passed 77 to 23.

The bill also brings new sanctions against Syria and strengthens US military cooperation with Israel and Jordan.

The measure also makes it easier for states and municipalities to pass laws to combat the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, or BDS, movement against Israel.

Several Democrats are against the BDS component of the bill.  They argue it infringes on the free speech rights of Americans to support any boycott efforts against Israel if they so choose.

Most of the 22 Democrats who voted against the new measure are running or have considered running for president against President Trump. 

The passage urging President Trump to maintain current US troop strength in Afghanistan and Syria was written by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R).

"ISIS and al Qaeda have yet to be defeated. And American national security interests require continued commitment to our missions there," McConnell said during a floor speech last week.

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About The Author

Steve Warren is a senior multimedia producer for CBN News. Warren has worked in the news departments of television stations and cable networks across the country. In addition, he also worked as a producer-director in television production and on-air promotion. A Civil War historian, he authored the book The Second Battle of Cabin Creek: Brilliant Victory. It was the companion book to the television documentary titled Last Raid at Cabin Creek currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. in Communication from the University of
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