Fitzpatrick Votes to Condemn Trump’s Troop Withdrawal from Syria

NorthPennNow Staff

Brian Fitzpatrick. File photo.

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) condemning Turkey for its illegal invasion of Syria.

The Resolution, H. J. Res. 77, opposes President Trump’s decision to end U.S. efforts to prevent Turkish military operations against Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria, calls on Turkish President Erdogan to immediately end military action, expresses continued support and humanitarian assistance for Syrian Kurdish communities, and calls for a specific plan to ensure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State.

“Giving the Turkish government license to attack our Kurdish friends sends the wrong message to our allies across the globe.” said Fitzpatrick. “Abandoning our allies who have fought alongside us is a terrible mistake that will cost our allies their lives and undermines United States credibility on the international stage.”

Fitzpatrick, a two-term member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism, is also an original cosponsor of several other bipartisan bills to address the developing situation with Turkey.

H.J. Res. 77 and the bipartisan Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act, introduced by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Countering Turkish Aggression Act, introduced by House GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney, would both impose sanctions on Turkish government officials and the Turkish industries most responsible for prosecuting this conflict again the Kurds.

The United States-Turkey Relations Review Act, introduced with Rep. Adam Kinzinger, the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee charged with overseeing Turkey, would instruct the Department of Defense to review its Defense Posture in Turkey, including U.S. operations at Incirlik Air Base where the U.S. currently stores part of its nuclear arsenal.