Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced he will vote against a government funding measure that includes authorization for President Obama to arm and equip Syrian rebels to fight Islamic terrorists in the Middle East.
Manchin is among several Senate Democrats who are likely to vote against the bill. Senate and House leaders in both parties are working to garner the support of a coalition of lawmakers to pass the bill in both chambers despite bipartisan opposition.
The legislation would pay for federal government operations until Dec. 11 at an annual rate of $1.012 trillion and would extend the Export-Import Bank until June.
Most Democrats support those provisions, but many do not like the language authorizing Obama to use U.S. military to train and equip Syrians in the regional war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
The United States is already conducting targeted bombing missions in Iraq, with plans to expand airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria.
“This should be an Arab ground war and a U.S. air war,” Manchin said in a Senate floor speech Wednesday. “But I cannot and will not support arming or training the Syrian opposition force.”
Manchin said he is opposed to the mission because of the potential longterm costs, lack of support from Middle East nations and the risk of America arming the wrong fighting forces in Syria.
He pointed out that supposedly moderate Syrian fighters are accused of giving American journalist Steven Sotloff to Islamic State terrorists, who then beheaded him and posted the video on the Internet.
“Are those people our allies?” Manchin asked. “Who are our other allies in this fight?”
Manchin acknowledged that his vote won’t sink the legislation but said even if he were to become the deciding vote, “I would cast it the same way.”
