Title: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on the letter of resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis and on the decision of President Trump to rapidly withdraw United States forces from Syria.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution expresses gratitude to Secretary of Defense James Mattis for his service to the country. It also expresses strong support for U.S. alliances and partnerships around the world, and concern with the President's decision to rapidly withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 741 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 741

  Expressing the sense of the Senate on the letter of resignation of 
  Secretary of Defense James Mattis and on the decision of President 
       Trump to rapidly withdraw United States forces from Syria.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 22, 2018

    Mr. Warner (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Coons, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
  Blumenthal, Mr. Carper, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Senate on the letter of resignation of 
  Secretary of Defense James Mattis and on the decision of President 
       Trump to rapidly withdraw United States forces from Syria.

Whereas James Mattis served the United States with distinction over the course 
        of a long career in the United States Marine Corps and as Secretary of 
        Defense;
Whereas the Senate concurs with the following sentiments expressed in the letter 
        of resignation submitted by Secretary Mattis to President Trump:

    (1) The strength of the United States is inextricably linked to the 
strength of our system of alliances and partnerships.

    (2) The United States cannot protect our interests or serve as the 
indispensable nation in the free world without those alliances and 
partnerships.

    (3) Maintaining that system of alliances and partnerships requires that 
the United States demonstrate respect for our allies.

    (4) While the Armed Forces of the United States cannot serve as the 
world's policeman, the United States must use all tools of American power 
to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership 
to our alliances.

    (5) Those alliances and partnerships have assisted the United States in 
increasing our national security, for example when all North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) nations fought alongside the United States 
following the attacks of September 11, 2001, and when 74 nations joined the 
effort to defeat the threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria 
(ISIS).

    (6) The United States must demonstrate resolve and be unambiguous in 
our approach to countries whose strategic interests run counter to our own.

    (7) The Russian Federation and China wish to shape a world order 
consistent with their authoritarian model, allowing them to veto other 
nations' economic, diplomatic, and security decisions, and to promote their 
own interests at the expense of other nations, the United States, and our 
allies.

    (8) The United States must do everything possible to advance a rules-
based international order that is most conducive to our security, 
prosperity, and values, and our efforts in that regard are strengthened by 
the solidarity of our alliances.

    (9) United States military pressure has demonstrated considerable, but 
incomplete progress against global terrorist groups, particularly al Qaeda, 
the group responsible for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the 
United States and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, who threaten the 
stability of the Middle East and the safety of the American people and the 
citizens of many of our closest allies;

Whereas there are a small number of troops on the ground in Syria to train, 
        equip, advise, and assist United States partners in the Syrian 
        Democratic Forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria;
Whereas the governments of the Russian Federation and Iran are fighting 
        alongside the Assad regime against United States allies and interests;
Whereas the abrupt decision of the President to remove all United States forces 
        in Syria without consultation enables Iran and the Russian Federation to 
        expand their influence and presence in Syria and beyond and threatens 
        United States partners in Syria and Israel and other allies in the 
        region; and
Whereas the decision of the President to precipitously withdraw United States 
        troops will leave the people of Syria even more vulnerable to violence 
        from terrorist groups and provide time and space for al Qaeda and the 
        Islamic State of Iraq and Syria to reconstitute and launch attacks 
        against the United States and our allies: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses its gratitude to Secretary of Defense James 
        Mattis for his decades of honorable service to the United 
        States in the United States Marine Corps and at the Department 
        of Defense;
            (2) expresses strong support for United States alliances 
        and partnerships with allies around the world;
            (3) expresses concern with President Trump's decision to 
        rapidly withdraw United States forces from Syria, a decision 
        taken without consultation with Congress or our allies and 
        partners and without apparent concern for our national and 
        collective interests; and
            (4) believes that these decisions could further undermine 
        United States leadership in the world, weaken our alliance and 
        partnership structure, and make it harder to achieve a world 
        more conducive to United States interests, including support 
        for democracy.
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