IN SUPPORT OF H. RES. 742, CONDEMNING THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION FOR SELLING WEAPONS TO SYRIA; Congressional Record Vol. 158, No. 116

<!-- -->

IN SUPPORT OF \[H. RES. 742\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-resolution/742), CONDEMNING THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION FOR

SELLING WEAPONS TO SYRIA

\\\_\\\_\\\_\\\_\\\_\\\_

HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

of california

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of \[H. Res. 742\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-resolution/742),

a resolution I introduced condemning the Russian government for selling

weapons to the Assad regime of Syria.

A bipartisan companion resolution sponsored by Senators Cornyn (R-TX)

and Durbin (D-IL) has been introduced in the Senate as \[S. Res. 494\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-resolution/494). I

am proud that my colleagues Sheila Jackson Lee, Dave Camp, Sue Myrick,

Bill Pascrell, Jr. and Betty McCollum have joined me as original co-

sponsors of this important resolution.

The resolution is endorsed by the American Syrian Coalition, ASC, and

I ask unanimous consent to include in the record a letter of

\\\[\\\[\[Page\](https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-158/extensions-of-remarks-section/page/E1385) \[E1385\](https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-158/extensions-of-remarks-section/page/E1385)\\\]\\\]

support from ASC Chairman Mahmoud Khattab. I welcome and invite all

members of the House to co-sponsor this resolution.

I am proud that I was able to work with Republican colleagues in the

House and the Senate on a resolution that puts the Congress on record

in calling upon the government of Russia to immediately end all weapons

sales to Syria, support international sanctions against the regime of

Syrian President Assad, and to use its influence to help bring about a

peaceful transition of leadership within the government of Syria.

Mr. Speaker, what began as a peaceful stand against tyranny has

morphed into the bloodiest movement of the Arab Spring. According to

the International Red Cross, more than 16,000 men, women and children

have been killed in the conflict, and the violence has increased

substantially in the past few weeks. An estimated 1 million Syrians

have also been internally displaced and tens of thousands more have

fled to neighboring countries.

The massacres in Houla and Tremseh where dozens if not hundreds of

civilians were killed are just two of the more shocking examples of the

terror that has gripped this nation for over a year.

Battles are currently raging for the country's two largest cities,

the capital Damascus and the commercial center Aleppo. In Aleppo

rockets and shells have routinely been landing in residential areas,

and there have been sightings of fighter planes over the city. The

international community is holding its breath as the Assad regime gears

up for what many fear will be a massacre of the city. A rebel victory

in Aleppo would be a decisive turning point in the war, and this is

something the Syrian government will prevent from happening at all

costs.

President Assad's brutal crackdown in response to these protests has

been directly fueled by the unrelenting support of the Russian

Federation. Throughout the mass murders, torture and other atrocities

perpetrated by the regime, Russia has continued to send weapons,

knowing they are not being used for self defense purposes.

Although the vast majority of the world has condemned the actions of

President Assad and his government, China and Russia have refused to

support any efforts to end the violence. Russia in particular has been

Mr. Assad's staunchest defender. The Russian Federation has now vetoed

three United Nations Security Council Resolutions that would have

imposed long overdue international sanctions against the Syrian regime.

I agree with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she stated, and

I quote: \\\`\\\`History will judge this council; its members must ask

themselves whether continuing to allow the Assad regime to commit

unspeakable violence against its own people is the legacy they want to

leave.''

These comments were obviously directed towards Russia and China, and

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Lavrov has simply repeated

Russia's support for non-intervention, and stated that any solution

would have to be decided by Syrians themselves, and not a foreign

power.

Mr. Lavrov says this as his country continues to send arms to Mr.

Assad and his army whose firepower is already vastly superior to the

rebels they are attacking.

Mr. Speaker, Russia can do what I cannot, and that is to sit idly by

as thousands of innocent civilians are slaughtered because of their

desire to live in a free and democratic country.

Syrian men and women fighting for democratic ideals should not be

abandoned to face the wrath of a tyrant alone. They should know that

they have a friend in the American government.

Today, I ask for my colleagues' support for \[H. Res. 742\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-resolution/742). The Russian

government has enabled the Assad regime to commit murder among other

mass atrocities, and they need to be held accountable for their

actions.

As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security I have seen how

America is an example of democracy and peace, and I wish to see the

same outcome for Syria.

I stand today not only to ask for the support of my colleagues, but

to show my support and admiration for the rebel fighters and all those

in Syria who are fighting against oppression and cruelty.

July 30, 2012.

Hon. Laura Richardson,

House of Representatives, Longworth Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Rep. Richardson: On behalf of the American Syrian

Coalition (ASC), I would like to thank you for introducing \[H.

Res. 742\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-resolution/742), a bipartisan resolution condemning the Russian

government for continuing to sell offensive weapons to the

Assad regime of Syria, which is using them to violently

suppress peaceful demonstrations and protests by innocent

Syrian citizens.

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in March 2011,

more than 21,000 people have been killed, according to the

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and thousands more have

been wounded, displaced, detained, and/or tortured.

Emboldened by the Russian and Chinese vetoes at the U.N.

Security Council, the regime continues its all-out military

assault using Russian-supplied helicopter gunships and

fighter jets to bomb Syrian civilians simply because they

demanded freedom, dignity and democracy. Your stance with the

Syrian people is courageous and we wholeheartedly appreciate

your efforts to help put an end to the brutal Assad regime.

Thank you again for supporting the Syrian people and for

standing up for those facing injustice at home and abroad.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mahmoud Khattab,

Chairman,

American Syrian Coalition.

&nbsp;