The special envoy to Syria said the presence of U.S. troops would not have stopped Turkey from invading Syria. Sen. Chris Murphy wasn’t buying it.
Syria
Posted inPolitics
Himes knocks Trump foreign policy, Arora defends it
Rep. Jim Himes and Republican challenger Harry Arora on Monday night presented two different views on how the United States should treat friends and foes around the world.
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Murphy to oppose Pompeo confirmation to lead State Department
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy on Monday said he would oppose the confirmation of CIA Director Mike Pompeo to head the State Department. Murphy cited the candidate’s “narrow” foreign policy views and stands on a number of issues, including the use of torture and the rights of Muslims and LGBT Americans, “that place him outside mainstream American values.”
Posted inNews, Politics
CT lawmakers differ on airstrikes on Syria, agree Trump needs approval from Congress
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy on Saturday had some of Capitol Hill’s the harshest criticism of U.S. airstrikes on Syria, calling them “illegal,” and counterproductive, leading to more attacks by Bashar al-Assad on the Syrian people and “a bloodier, more brutal war.” Other Connecticut lawmakers were more supportive of the strikes, but called on the White House to seek authorization from Congress for further military action and devise a “comprehensive” strategy on Syria.
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Murphy battles Trump on foreign policy, undiplomatically
WASHINGTON — Even as President Donald Trump aims to slash the State Department’s budget, Sen. Chris Murphy is battling the headwind in an effort to double the money appropriated for many diplomatic programs.
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CT lawmakers: Trump must ask Congress for authority for Syria campaign
WASHINGTON — As they did when President Obama took action against ISIS in Syria, Connecticut’s Democratic lawmakers are calling for President Donald Trump to seek Congress’approval before taking any further military action against Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad. But Congress isn’t likely to take action.
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Syrian refugee talks about the impact of Trump travel ban
WASHINGTON – Fadi Kassar of Milford, 40, traveled a long, hard road through several countries before arriving in Connecticut and being granted asylum in 2015. He spoke to the Mirror about the human cost of the Donald Trump’s travel ban – and how it is changing the perception of the United States in the Muslim world.
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Civil rights groups at odds with CT lawmakers over visa program
WASHINGTON -– A coalition of civil rights groups have joined this week to condemn Congress’ response to the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino – including legislation supported by Connecticut’s Democratic lawmakers.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut’s immigrant ‘crisis’ not its first
The good people of Connecticut are terrified that society will be overrun by the dangerous, ignorant foreigners and their strange religion. Politicians fan the flames of prejudice to increase their personal popularity with voters. Editorial cartoonists depict these immigrants as less than human, with animal-like features. Sometimes the caricatures show the foreigners with weapons, including bombs, primed for use against innocent civilians. This scenario sounds like today’s Muslim refugees from Syria, but it’s not. It was the life of the immigrant Irish of the 1850s.
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State Dept. official with West Hartford ties tasked to develop, sell Syria plan
WASHINGTON — Former West Hartford resident Brett McGurk is considered a leading expert at the State Department on the threats posed by the Islamic State and what the Obama administration is trying to do about them. But fighting international terrorism isn’t his only challenge. Now he’s been tasked to persuade skeptical lawmakers, including members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation, to back President Obama’s campaign against ISIS in Syria.
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Murphy urges U.S. to take in thousands of Syrian refugees
WASHINGTON– Sen. Chris Murphy, fresh from a trip to the Middle East, said the United States should abandon its “coldhearted” policy toward Syrian and take in at least 50,000 of the nation’s refugees.
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Murphy pushes Senate vote to bar ground troops from ISIS battle
Washington — Sen. Chris Murphy Monday pushed his campaign to bar American ground troops from the U.S. fight against ISIS by pressing for a Senate amendment that would prohibit the Pentagon from putting boots on the ground.
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Murphy breaks Senate tradition with high-profile stands
WASHINGTON – With his fight for gun control, defense of the Affordable Care Act and clashes with President Obama on foreign policy, Sen. Chris Murphy broke with a Senate tradition that freshmen should be seen and not heard. “I don’t think there’s a waiting period anymore for freshmen,” he said. “My constituents did not elect me to be a shrinking violet.” (This is the seventh and final story in a series about the roles each member of the Connecticut congressional delegation played in the 113th Congress.)
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Murphy, Blumenthal split on authorization to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s Democratic senators split Thursday over legislation that would give the Obama administration authority to arm and train Syrian rebels, but the measure won approval in the Senate on a bipartisan, 78-22 vote.
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In CT delegation, Courtney casts sole vote to arm Syrian rebels
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District was the only member of Connecticut’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for an amendment Wednesday that will allow the Pentagon to spend money arming and training Syrian rebels.