US Congress pass bill for MANPADs to Syrian rebels
US Congress opens way for missiles to Syrian rebels
Bill requires Defense, State departments’ request as a condition for anti-aircraft missiles to Syrian opposition08.12.2016
By Kasim Ileri
WASHINGTON
The Senate on Thursday passed a defense
policy bill that allows for the supply of portable surface to air
missiles to Syrian rebels upon approval by the heads of the Defense and
State departments.
The National Defense Authorization Act,
which authorizes $618.7 billion in the military spending for the 2017
fiscal year, passed at the chamber in a 92-7 vote, an overwhelming
majority that overrides President Barack Obama’s veto power.
The bill includes $67.8 billion in an overseas contingency operations account to fund operations abroad.
The original text sponsored by Republican
John McCain prohibited the supply of Man Portable Air Defense Systems,
or MANPADs, to the Syrian opposition.
But the Conference Committee that prepares the final version of bills amended the provision.
“If a determination is made during fiscal
year 2017 to use funds available to the Department of Defense for that
fiscal year to provide man-portable air defense systems (MANPADs) to the
vetted Syrian opposition … such funds may not be used for that purpose
until (1) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State jointly
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the
determination,” the final version of the bill reads.
That final version also passed the House of Representatives last week by a 375-34 vote.
Following the Senate vote, the legislation was sent to Obama to be signed into law.
