US Senate readies vote to sends tanks to Syria

Senate offers resolution arming Syrian rebels
By Lisa Mascaro – 28 March, 2012 – LA Times

Washington — Saying President Obama and the United Nations are not doing enough to stop the bloodshed in Syria, leading Senate hawks have proposed supplying Syrian rebels with weapons and support in the first congressional move toward ending the Assad regime.

The senators made it clear Wednesday they were not calling for the authorization of U.S. military intervention as they pressed to send munitions and aid to the Syrian rebels as they battle President Bashar Aassad.

“How can you sit on the sidelines in Syria and not take a stand?” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who put forward the resolution with fellow Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the independent from Connecticut, among others.

McCain, Graham and Lieberman had previously called for U.S.-led military airstrikes in Syria, but their resolution Wednesday fell short of that stance.

The resolution states the Senate would support calls by Arab leaders to support the Syrians “through the provision of weapons and other material support.”

It is unclear if the resolution introduced Wednesday to send munitions and tanks to the rebels would be voted on in the Senate, especially as lawmakers are set to adjourn for a spring recess at the end of this week. …more