Legislation To Constrain White House Re-Engagement With Syria Isolates United States. Targets 14 Muslim-Led Countries, Including Turkiye Which Needs To Re-Engage With Syria. US$50,000.00 Threshold.
Legislation Introduced To Constrain Executive Branch Re-Engagement With Syria Will Serve Only To Further Isolate Government Of The United States
14 Muslim-Led Government Targets; 13 Of Which Are Members Of The 22-Member Arab League. Reaction Easy To Predict.
Syria’s Neighbor, State Of Israel, Is Not Listed.
Going After Turkiye Again… With Or Without President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Will Harden Resolve Of Muslim-Led Governments Including Allies-Of-Convenience and Allies-Of-Necessity In Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia, Turkiye, and United Arab Emirates.
This Legislative Provision Is Not Practical: “(B) a full list of diplomatic meetings at the Ambassador level or above, between the Syrian regime and any representative of the Governments of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, or Lebanon, respectively; (C) a full list of transactions, including investments, grants, contracts, or donations (including loans or other extension of credit), exceeding US$50,000.00 in areas of Syria held by the Assad regime by any persons from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, or Lebanon;”
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al Sabah Before Their Meeting (05/11/2023)- SECRETARY BLINKEN: … “And of course, more broadly, it speaks to the enduring but also evolving relationship between the United States and Kuwait – strong strategic partners, longtime allies, and increasingly working together on the many challenges that both of our countries face. We see Kuwait playing a vital role as a force for peace, for security, for diplomacy throughout the Middle East and beyond, globally. And especially in these times, that’s vitally important to us. We have I know lots to share today, consulting on a whole variety of issues, from Syria to Yemen to the broader situation in the Middle East.”
There Must Be One United States President, Not Five Hundred And Thirty-Five
President Biden And His Successor Must Be Permitted Latitude To Re-Engage With President Bashir al-Assad
Other Countries Will Re-Engage And Threat Of Or Use Of Sanctions Won’t Dissuade All Of Them. Will Encourage Where Possible Disconnection From The United States Government- And From United States Companies.
Increasingly, Governments Look At Publicly Disavowing United States Sanctions As An International Badge Of Honor.
Sanctions Must Not Define The United States. Messaging Must Define The United States.
Members of the 118th United States Congress must constrain themselves from seeking to constrain the prerogatives of the executive branch to conduct foreign policy.
From the United States Constitution- “Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” The 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) authorizes the president to impose economic sanctions on foreign entities.
Increasingly essential negotiations and engagement by the executive branch with other country governments are not legislatively limited- particularly when the government of the United States is ever more frequently an outlier due to other country governments determining that engagement or re-engagement with a particular country government remains in their interest even though not in the interest of the United States government.
This is particularly true with the Syrian Arab Republic and the Bashir al-Assad Administration (2000- ) whose membership in the twenty-two-country member Cairo, Egypt-based Arab League (created in 1945) was suspended in 2011. In May 2023, Syria was again a member, and other members are re-opening embassies, re-opening borders, re-authorizing passenger and cargo airline operations, and re-establishing commercial, economic, financial, and political engagement with Damascus.
Arab League: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordon, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
With a 2011 population of approximately 22.7 million, Syria shares borders with Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, State of Israel, and Turkiye. The country has approximately one hundred and ten miles of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea.
Turkiye-based companies will also have a substantial role in the reconstruction of Syria, with or without the acquiescence of the government of the United States. There are approximately four million refugees from Syria residing in Turkiye and the government in Ankara, Turkiye, want them to return to their homes.
The influence of the government of United States continues to wane absent primarily the use of or threat to use commercial, economic, financial, military, and political sanctions as implemented and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce, United States Department of Defense, United States Department of Justice, and United States Department of State.
The ability of the government of the United States to construct and then maintain “coalitions of the willing” ever more frequently require the considerable use of or threat to use sanctions and coercion rather than rely solely upon messaging that like minds must stand together.
Precisely because of the overuse of sanctions, particularly when a consensus suggests sanctions against a country neither result in “regime change” nor “change in behavior of the regime,” there becomes a greater tolerance for pain by country governments.
Governments replaced due to sanctions? Cuba- no. Iran- no. Myanmar- no. North Korea- no. Russian Federation- no. Syria- no. Venezuela- no.
Governments demonstrably changing behavior due to sanctions? China- no. Saudi Arabia- no. Turkiye- no.
Governments demonstrably changed behaviors due to use of or potential use of Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) provisions which focus upon engagement with the Russian Federation? India- no. Turkiye- no.
Countries are increasingly exploring the creation of commercial, economic, financial, military, and political alliances, and in some instances expanding existing commercial, economic, financial, military, and political alliances. The government of the United States is excluded from these opportunities. For example:
Created in 2006, BRICS first included Brazil, Russian Federation, India, and China. South Africa became a member in 2010. The members of BRICS are actively seeking to expand the alliance. BRICS includes the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 9th, and 25th largest countries in terms of population and 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 32nd largest countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And expansive BRICS must not be ignored.
Members of the G7, G20, EU, United Nations Security Council, OPEC, OAS, and NATO have or are exploring the use of currencies and stores of value other than the United States Dollar for bilateral, multilateral, and global transactions. The result is a weakening, although the trajectory remains a low-degree decline, of the United States Dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
Group of 7 (G7): (2014-Present) includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States. The Russian Federation was excluded in 2014 due to its military actions on the Crimean Peninsula.
Group of 20 (G20): Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Turkiye, United States, Australia, Canada, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Republic of South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and Brussels, Belgium-based European Union (EU).
European Union EU): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC): There are five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States and ten non-permanent members (each elected for two-year terms) of the United Nations Security Council. There are 193 members of the United Nations.
Organization Of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): Algeria, Angola, Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. OPEC Observers: Egypt, Mexico, Norway, Oman, and Russian Federation among other countries.
Organization of American States (OAS): Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Romania, Germany, Slovakia, Greece, Slovenia, Hungary, Spain, Turkiye, Latvia, and North Macedonia. The Kingdom of Sweden awaits approval from the governments of the Republic of Hungary and the Republic of Turkiye.
Due to the overuse of sanctions, citizens in an increasing number of countries, including true allies, allies of necessity, allies of convenience, and cooperative outliers simply do not like the United States- its government and its people. They perceive a nation defined by the power of sanctions rather than the power of words. A magnet for ideas and ideals to which other country populations aspire to adhere. Why must the United States be a bully, many ask.
“Wilson, McCaul, Gonzalez, Hill, Boyle Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Hold Assad Regime Accountable
Washington, D.C. (11 May 2023)- Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Steve Cohen (D-TN), Ranking Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, the Co-Chairs of the Free, Democratic and Stable Syria Caucus, French Hill (R-AR), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), and Carlos Giménez (R-FL) introduced the Assad Anti-Normalization Act to hold the Assad regime accountable for its crimes against the Syrian people and to illustrate the severe cost of governments considering normalization with the Assad regime.
“It has been over 12 years since the Syrian revolution against the brutal Assad regime began. Supported by war criminal Putin and the terrorist Mullahs in Tehran, over half a million people have been slaughtered by this criminal regime, and over half the Syrian population has been displaced. Countries choosing to normalize with the unrepentant mass murderer and drug trafficker, Bashar al-Assad, are headed down the wrong path. The Assad regime is illegitimate and poses a threat to peace and prosperity in the region. Support for a free and democratic Syria remains strong and I am grateful to introduce this bipartisan legislation to hold the Assad regime accountable for its crimes,” said Rep. Wilson.
“Assad, and his Russian and Iranian backers, continue to commit horrific acts against the Syrian people and undermine regional security. They must be held accountable for these crimes, not welcomed back unconditionally by the international community. The United States must use all of our leverage to stop normalization with Assad. I am proud to join my colleagues in mandating further sanctions against any form of investment in territory under the control of the Assad regime, as we remain committed to ensuring the Syrian people receive justice,” said Rep. McCaul.
“President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has led to the mass murder and displacement of its citizens,” stated Rep. Gonzalez. “Normalization of relations with Syria will only legitimize his regime’s heinous acts. I am proud to join Congressman Wilson to introduce the Assad Anti-Normalization Act, which condemns the normalization of relations with Bashar al-Assad and imposes sanctions on those who support him.”
“Syria’s readmittance to the Arab League signals to Assad that his barbaric behavior is acceptable –these steps towards normalization are reckless. The Arab League’s recognition should not deter the U.S. government from its obligation to sanction Assad in our efforts to dismantle the trafficking and production of Captagon and hold him accountable for his egregious war crimes,” said Rep. Hill.
"The United States and our allies have stood together in opposing Bashar al-Assad's barbaric regime for more than a decade now," said Rep. Boyle. "If countries in the region are ready to look past the numerous documented criminal acts that were committed in Syria, then the United States must set the example and use its diplomatic strength to counter these misguided steps. Assad and his backers in Russia and Iran have not shown any reason that would justify normalizing relations with a government that is responsible for over 600,000 men, women, and children being murdered. This legislation is a great next step of making the position of Congress clear.”
“Bashar al-Assad is a war criminal whose ongoing atrocities should be condemned, not normalized. I am disappointed in the Arab League’s decision to recognize his barbarous regime. The Syrian people have suffered enough and deserve new leadership,” said Rep. Cohen.
Specifically, this legislation would:
Require an annual strategy for five years to counter normalization with the Assad regime by countries which have taken steps to normalize with the Assad regime.
Prohibit any federal government department or agency from recognizing or normalizing with any government in Syria led by Bashar al-Assad.
Require an immediate review for Caesar Act sanctions for any grants of $50,000 or more to Syria.
Require a report into the United Nations assistance that has gone to Syria which has gone to the benefit of the Assad regime.
Expand the Caesar Act by plugging loopholes in the original bill which made it hard to enforce. It would also expand Caesar Act sanctions to those involved in diverting and stealing humanitarian assistance meant for the people of Syria and those involved in stealing the property of the Syrian people for political reasons or personal gain.
Sanction the members of Syria’s People’s Assembly and their immediate family members, as well as those who provide them with support, along with senior officials of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party in Syria.
Clarify the applicability of current sanctions to Syrian regime airlines, and to energy transactions – sending a clear sign to countries normalizing with Assad which are considering allowing Syrian regime airlines to land in their airports.
Determine whether or not Asma al-Assad’s charity the Syria Trust for Development meets the criteria for sanctions under the Caesar Act.
Allow the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to request review of any names for Caesar Act sanctions which the President would be required to consider within 30 days.
“This bill will pressure the Assad regime to account for its mass murder and other war crimes including chemical weapons, and will advance the fight against ISIS, support return of refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), and block a geostrategic triumph by Assad, Putin and the IRGC,” said former Ambassador and Special Representative to Syria, James Jeffrey.
“This bipartisan bill makes crystal clear that Congress is as committed as ever to enforcing the Caesar Act, holding Assad accountable for his war crimes and other atrocities, and actively opposing the attempt to normalize the Assad regime,” said former Special Envoy to Syria, Joel Rayburn.
“How the U.S. responds to Assad’s continuing war crimes and atrocities matters. It will impact regional stability, US credibility, and our national security interests in the Middle East and in many other regions. The stakes are high. This critical, bipartisan bill not only reinforces existing legislatively-mandated Syria sanctions but makes it U.S. policy to neither recognize nor normalize relations with the Assad regime. Congress is rightly saying: normalizing war criminals and those individuals and entities who help them will not happen on our watch,” said FDD Action.
The Representatives are grateful for the input and support of this legislation by the American Center for Levant Studies (ACLS), Americans for a Free Syria, Citizens for a Safe and Secure America, Foundation for Defense of Democracy (FDD) Action, Multifaith Alliance, Pro Justice, Syria Faith Initiative, Syrian American Council, Syrian Christian USA, Syrian Forum USA, Syrian Humanitarian Institute for National Empowerment (SHINE), and the Syrian Emergency Task Force. A copy of the legislation can be found at this link”
LINK To Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023
