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Senate approves Syria, anti-BDS[*] bill
The Senate passed legislation on Thursday breaking with President Trump's Syria policy. Senators voted 77-23 to send the legislation to the House that includes a provision warning Trump against a "precipitous" withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan. It also asks the administration to certify that certain conditions have been met "for the enduring defeat of al Qaeda and ISIS before initiating any significant withdrawal of United States forces from Syria or Afghanistan."
[...] In addition to the Syria amendment, the bill also included sanctions against the Syrian government, increased support for Israel and Jordan and a provision that would let states penalize businesses that take part in boycotts or divestments of Israel.
Both the Syria amendment and the anti-BDS provisions sparked division among Democrats. [...] Democrats had raised First Amendment concerns about the anti-BDS provision, which splintered most of the party's 2020 contenders and caucus leadership. "While I do not support the BDS movement, we must defend every American's constitutional right to engage in political activity. It is clear to me that this bill would violate Americans' First Amendment rights," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement last week.
[*] BDS: boycott, divestment and sanctions.
Also at NYT.
See also: Is the Anti-BDS Bill Constitutional? Yes, But...
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by DannyB on Thursday February 07 2019, @10:07PM (3 children)
That sounds so nice.
What if other major super powers hostile to the US don't obey that rule?
How long before they are on the doorstep of our allies? How long before they invade our allies? Think it can't happen? But then I guess there would be no more need for Brexit. And no more need for Freedom Fries.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 07 2019, @10:49PM
Please identify all those superpowers first, and then we will discuss one country after another. It's not like the planet is teeming with superpowers so much that they are hiding behind every corner and are ready to cross the border. Many may say that the USA is the only superpower currently.
In other words, who are you afraid of? Who may have determination and capabilities to attack the USA? Why will they do that, once the USA stops targeting those countries and intervening in their affairs?
Currently the US policy is like a bully who picks fights everywhere and needs more and more protection against the enemies that he made himself. The only winners here are the MIC and its propagandists in Congress, who authorize more weapons and more war to use the bombs up and immediately start making more.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Arik on Thursday February 07 2019, @11:19PM
There aren't any of those, but there will be; China in particular is going to be too big for us to possibly contain soon. And when we criticize them for that, the hypocrisy of the criticism will be a gift. I'm sure they'll be appropriately grateful.
"How long before they are on the doorstep of our allies? How long before they invade our allies? Think it can't happen?"
Oh it absolutely CAN happen, that's the whole point. That's just *one* of the reasons why running around the world organizing coups and arming rebels and "color revolutions" and stationing troops wherever we please is a bad idea. It not only generates ill will quite effectively, it not only costs a lot of money at a time when we're deep in debt and our infrastructure is poor, it also repudiates and weakness that whole notion of international law as well.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Friday February 08 2019, @03:30AM
How long before they are on the doorstep of our allies? How long before they invade our allies?
They can call, or they can leave a message on Twitter. Prez probably doesn't have time to pick up the phone. I wonder if he can type fast like those kids do.
Point is, you don't go in uninvited, unless you can prove they present real danger outside their borders and the neighbors ask for help, or you got other plans. Pretty straight up.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..