WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) spoke on the House Floor last week to urge the Senate to take up H.R. 1677, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which would impose new sanctions on the President of Syria, Bashar al Assad, and his backers, and give justice to the people of Syria suffering at the hands of these war criminals. The bill is named after Caesar, a Syrian regime defector who risked his life to expose the horrific brutality by Assad and his regime.
Congressman Kinzinger also used this time to talk about Layla Shweikani, a young Chicago woman who went to Syria as an aid worker to help those plagued by the war. She was detained, tortured, and murdered by the Assad regime on December 28, 2016 and her family was notified just two weeks ago. This is believed to be the first American murdered by the Assad regime, and little to no attention has been given to this heinous crime. Congressman Kinzinger has asked the Administration for answers, and over a week later, he is still waiting, Kinzinger's website says.
In contrast, Wednesday President Donald Trump declared victory over the Islamic State of Syria, and ordered U.S troops be withdrawn from their posts.
The withdrawal of the more than 2,000 troops is based on Trump’s decision that the mission against ISIS is complete, a U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly before it was announced by the White House, told USA TODAY.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday that the U.S. has "defeated the territorial caliphate."
"These victories over ISIS in Syria do not signal the end of the Global Coalition or its campaign," Sanders said in a statement. "We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign.”
