In this citizen journalism image provided by The Syrian Revolution Against Bashar Assad, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, anti-Syrian regime protesters hold banners and chant slogans during a demonstration in the neighborhood of Bustan Al-Qasr in Aleppo, Syria, Friday, June 21, 2013. Syriaís rebel commander Gen. Salim Idris confirms they have received new weapons putting his anti-government forces in better position in fighting against government troops and Lebanonís Hezbollah fighters.WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and House Republicans from Tennessee find themselves on opposite planks of the Syria debate embroiling the Capitol.
On the hawkish side is Corker, a Republican respected for his views on American outreach as ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The former Chattanooga mayor favors arming “moderate” Syrian rebels the administration has fully “vetted,” always with a no-boots-on-the-ground caveat.
A bill he shepherded through committee resembles President Barack Obama’s recent decision to supply rebels with small arms and ammunition without sending a fresh batch of soldiers into the Middle East.
Once President Bashar al-Assad is defeated, Corker says, American intervention is essential to help Syrian moderates fill the resulting power vacuum, as opposed to extremist forces linked to al-Qaida.
On the isolationist side are House Republicans such as Scott DesJarlais, Diane Black and Phil Roe. They were first elected in 2008 and 2010, and Afghanistan and Iraq are fresh on their minds. Generally, the trio says arming anyone could escalate the conflict, which already has claimed at least 90,000 lives, The New York Times reports.