Should Assad be Tried for War Crimes and Russia Condemned for Allowing His Regime to Keep its Gas? (S. Res. 116)

What is S. Res. 116?

(Updated May 20, 2018)

This resolution would condemn the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as being responsible for war crimes through its use of chemical weapons against civilians. It would also condemn Russia for blocking the U.N. Security Council’s efforts to respond to Assad’s use of chemical weapons and ask the Security Council to take immediate, decisive action to stop Assad.

The resolution also supports the U.N. organization responsible for investigating and enforcing chemical weapons laws and expresses alarm that the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons may be undermining the Chemical Weapons Convention.

As a simple resolution, this legislation wouldn’t advance out of the Senate if passed or have the force of law.

Argument in favor

The Assad regime is guilty of war crimes and Russia is standing in the way of Syria’s chemical weapons being removed. The U.N. Security Council needs to act decisively to stop Assad and hold him accountable.

Argument opposed

While the Assad regime has committed horrible acts against his own people and may be guilty of war crimes, passing this resolution will do nothing to stop him. All it does is ask Russia to stop obstructing the U.N. Security Council.

Impact

The Syrian people; the Assad regime; Russia; and the U.N. Security Council.

Cost of S. Res. 116

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: A bipartisan group of senators who sit on the Foreign Relations Committee introduced this bill following the Assad regime’s most recent use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people. Lead sponsor Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) offered the following in the committee’s press release:

“This unspeakable atrocity is the latest in a string of war crimes perpetrated against innocent Syrians over the last six years. Bashar al-Assad is a war criminal and while I am pleased to hear President Trump say today that his opinion of Assad has changed in light of this attack, what remains to be seen is whether there will be strong U.S. leadership and policy to hold Assad accountable. Later this month we will commemorate Yom HaShoah.  We say never again, but it’s time we meant it, and it starts with holding Assad accountable.”

Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) added that:

“Assad is a war criminal who must answer for his heinous crimes against humanity, which are among the worst in modern history. Our regrettable inaction in 2013 emboldened Assad and his Russian and Iranian enablers with disastrous consequences, and we now must support a process to ensure accountability.”

This legislation has the bipartisan support of 12 cosponsors in the Senate, including nine Democrats and three Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) Press Release
  
• Senate Foreign Relations Committee Press Release
  
• Axios
  
• The Times of Israel
  
• Bill Text