Philadelphia
Democratic senators are urging caution as the Obama administration seeks to enhance cooperation with Russia in Syria, amid revelations that the Kremlin may have been behind a hack of the Democratic party’s computer servers.
The administration’s move to coordinate with Russia in the Middle East comes as hackers, suspected to be Russian, leaked thousands of emails Friday, some of which implicated Democratic National Committee officials in trying to throw the party’s presidential primary to Hillary Clinton. Some have claimed the hack was an attempt by the Kremlin to tilt the election in favor of Donald Trump.
New Jersey senator Bob Menendez told THE WEEKLY STANDARD Wednesday that the suspected Russian activity has deepened his existing doubts about working with Russia in Syria.
“I had serious reservations about engaging with Russia as it relates to Syria, because I don’t think we share the common goals of what we want to see in Syria,” Menendez, a member on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said. “Now, with their efforts to try to influence, from what it seems, a presidential election—and obviously that influence being that they think Donald Trump is better for them in terms of their interests in the world—well, that to me is an incredibly dangerous development and only goes further to say that they are not someone that we can easily ally ourselves with.”
Other lawmakers said that Russia could not be trusted, but dealt measured praise to Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts at cooperation.
“I don’t trust Russia,” said Maryland senator Ben Cardin, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. “We have to work with Russia, so I applaud the work being done by Secretary Kerry, … reaching out to try to find accommodations where we can work together, but I think we have to be realistic that Russia has not been helpful.”
Kerry has advocated for joint military and intelligence efforts with Russia in Syria, despite criticism stemming in part from Russia’s support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Critics have also denounced the Secretary for staying silent on Russian cease-fire violations in Syria, after Russia bombed a garrison for American and British elite forces near the Syrian-Jordanian border last month.
Illinois senator Dick Durbin said working with the Kremlin is necessary to end the years-long conflict in Syria, though he said there is “no reason to trust Putin.”
“Ending the violence and war in Syria is a major priority. Russia is part of the environment there and we have to deal with them … for the safety of our men and women in uniform, in the hopes that we can coordinate our effort to end ISIS,” Durbin said.
Asked how the lack of trust between America and Russia would play into Syria policy, Durbin told TWS, “trust but verify.”
Senator Tom Carper of Delaware used that same phrase, expressing concern over the DNC breach but placing greater priority on resolving the conflict in Syria.
“I think we need to take the long view,” Carper told TWS. “What did President Reagan used to say? Trust but verify. We don’t do this out of trust, it’s not because we have a trusting relationship with the Russians. Maybe some day we will again.”
Secretary of State John Kerry has been working with Russian officials on a proposal to share information and coordinate air strikes against al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra. The plan would also prevent the Syrian government from striking rebels and civilians.
Kerry’s efforts have been met with skepticism from administration officials. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, underscored Monday that the agreement would not be “founded on trust.”
Carter said last month that the Kremlin has not been not working to achieve its stated goals in Syria, though he remained “hopeful” they would. “[The Russians] said they were coming in to fight ISIL, and that they would assist the political transition in Syria towards a post-Assad government,” he told CNN. “They haven’t done either of those things.”
