Dems & GOP shoot down Gaetz’ bill to withdraw U.S. troops in Syria

OAN Deven Berryhill
UPDATED 6:25 PM PT – Wednesday, March 8, 2023

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 103-321 Wednesday to reject Matt Gaetz’s resolution on war powers that would have allowed the U.S. military forces out of Syria.

House Representative Matthew Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, forced the vote on the floor using expedited procedures authorized by the War Powers Act. The bill, if passed by the House Representative Matthew Gaetz (R-Fla.), would have mandated that the Biden administration withdraw all Syrian troops within six months.

The Biden administration left approximately 900 U.S. military personnel in Syria to fight ISIS. 

“Congress has never authorized the use of military force in Syria,” Gaetz made comments prior to the election. “The United States is currently not in a war with or against Syria, so why are we conducting dangerous military operations there? President [Joe] Biden must remove all U.S. armed forces from Syria.”

Democrats of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Libertarians and “America First” Republicans voted with Gaetz in order to pass the resolution. In the face of opposition from both sides, only a third vote was cast for the bill.

“Even though ISIS no longer controls significant territory, there are still tens of thousands of hardened terrorist fighters in Iraq and Syria who are hellbent on establishing their terror state” Mike McCaul (R. Florida), House Foreign Affairs Chairman, spoke on the House floor.

Gaetz was one of 56 Democrats and 47 Republicans who voted for the bill to be passed. 

“I don’t believe that our presence is deterring much of anything,” Gaetz spoke last week in an interview with DefenseNews.com. “I think that it’s a risk of us escalating the conflict.”

Florida Congressmen reminded House Members of American casualties in Middle East Wars.

“So often we come to the floor and we debate frivolities. This is one of the most important things we can be talking about,” said Gaetz. “How we use the credibility of our fellow Americans … how we spill the blood of our bravest patriots. We have stained the deserts in the Middle East with enough American blood. It is time to bring our servicemembers home.”

House members supported the U.S. military presence on Syria. Some argued that an early withdrawal could lead to more American deaths and allow foreign terrorist organizations like ISIS, such as ISIS, to grow. The 150 Democrats and 171 Republicans that voted against this resolution made it clear.