Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress has been mobilizing to provide U.S. support
to the Syrian opposition.

Key members of the House and Senate have been urging President Barack
Obama to directly help the opposition to the regime of Syrian President
Bashar Assad. Several of them said the Obama administration should consider
military assistance as well.

“We must consider, among other actions, providing opposition groups inside Syria, both political and military, with better means to organize their activities, to care for the wounded and find safe haven, to communicate securely, to defend themselves and to fight back against Assad’s forces,” three leading Senate members said in a statement.

The senators were identified as John McCain, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as Lindsey Graham and Joseph Lieberman. In 2011, McCain successfully lobbied the administration to help oust the regime of Libyan Col. Moammar Gadhafi.

The statement, released on Feb. 8, warned that Assad was determined to kill opposition elements. The senators said sanctions were insufficient to
stop the Damascus regime, provided massive aid by Iran and Russia.

“The conflict in Syria is entering a critical new phase,” the senators
said. “Assad’s slaughter of people in Syria, including dozens more killed
today, is only increasing and growing more ruthless. In Libya, the threat of
imminent atrocities in Benghazi mobilized the world to act. Such atrocities
are now a reality in Homs and other cities all across Syria.”

Congressional sources said many in the House and Senate have concluded
that there was no longer a diplomatic solution to the revolt in Syria, which
began in March 2011. They said the veto by China and Russia of a United
Nations Security Council resolution has encouraged Assad to kill civilians.

“We should rule out no option that could help to save lives,” the
senators said. “While tougher sanctions and the formation of an
international contact group for Syria are welcome, the actions of the
community of nations are increasingly divorced from the reality on the
ground in Syria.”

Officials said the administration has been working with NATO,
particularly Britain, France and Turkey, to help the opposition. But they
said direct military intervention was not being considered.

“In the coming days we will continue our very active discussions with
friends and allies who support the Syrian people, along with the opposition
Syrian National Council” White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

  Barack Obama, Bashar Assad, Jay Carney, Key senators urging military support for Syrian opposition, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Senate Armed Services Committee, UN Security Council resolution vetoed