WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after it was reported that the Trump Administration would be withdrawing troops from Syria.

"I strongly agree with the President’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria. Congress never authorized the US to go to war in Syria. While going after terrorists is authorized, both the Obama and Trump Administrations went far beyond the congressionally authorized use of force against terrorists.

Moreover, neither Administration had a strategy for Syria. Neither Administration could articulate why American troops were fighting in Syria, what the desired end state should be, nor how we would achieve it.

I repeatedly criticized both Administrations for not having a strategy and for taking war actions not authorized by Congress. I am pleased that this unauthorized and failed executive branch war in Syria will finally come to an end."

Rep Lieu’s prior statements on Syria:

In June 2017, Rep. Lieu condemned President Trump for threatening President Bashar al-Assad and asserted that Congress must authorize any use of force in Syria.

In May 2017, Rep. Lieu spoke out against the U.S. military’s airstrikes in Syria.

In April 2017, Rep. Lieu denounced President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons attack, and criticized the Trump Administration’s lack of coherent strategy in Syria and its unauthorized use of force.

In March 2017, Rep. Lieu sent a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis regarding recent reports of significant increases in civilian casualties from U.S. airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.

In March 2017, Rep. Lieu slammed the Trump Administration’s decision to deploy U.S. ground troops in Syria.

In October 2015, Rep. Lieu commended the Obama Administration for ending the Syrian rebel training program, and called again for an end to U.S. airstrikes.

In September 2015, Rep. Lieu expressed deep concern over U.S. airstrikes in Syria, citing his prior record of opposing U.S. military force in Syria.

In August 2015, Rep. Lieu urged the Obama Administration to put forward a comprehensive strategy for the conflict in Syria.

In February 2015, Rep. Lieu announced his opposition to the Obama Administration’s new AUMF proposal, arguing it had to potential to authorize the deployment of unlimited ground troops in Iraq and Syria (and anywhere else in the Middle East) by Obama and subsequent administrations, while at the same time restricting the actions of those ground troops.

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