IN RECOGNITION OF THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE SYRIAN WAR

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IN RECOGNITION OF THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE SYRIAN WAR

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HON. ADAM KINZINGER

of illinois

in the house of representatives

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Mr. KINZINGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 7th anniversary

of the beginning of the Syrian War.

Since the conflict began in 2011, over 500,000 Syrians have been

killed, including 50,000 children by the murderous dictator Bashar al-

Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers. These brutal regimes not

only target civilians with their artillery strikes, but the Assad

regime continues to use chemical weapons, including chlorine gas, to

kill his own citizens with impunity.

Over the last 7 years, over 30 chemical weapons attacks have taken

place in Syria. Bashar al Assad has used these chemical weapons in

clear violation of international law, and against countless resolutions

by the United Nations Security Council. The world

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has seen the heartbreaking images of children gasping for their lives,

body bags lining the streets, and horrific videos of these chemical

weapon attacks. We cannot turn a blind eye to the genocide before us.

The situation in Syria today is devastating with no signs of

immediate improvement. As I have said before, in order to prevent the

rise of the next generation of terrorists and killers, we must ensure

that Bashar al-Assad is removed from power. I believe the United States

of America was put on this Earth to be an example of self-governance

and order in a world drowning in strongmen, oppression, and poverty.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for the United States to exert leadership in

Syria. If we fail to act and if we fail to lead, we are failing

humanity. Failing to act in Syria is a failure on us all. We must learn

from history, learn from past mistakes, and take action as a global

leader for freedom and hope. Stopping Assad's genocide in Syria is part

of our mission statement, and I will continue to do what I can in

support of that mission. I urge my colleagues to join me in doing the

same.

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