{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://jeffduncan.house.gov/press-release/rep-jeff-duncan-issues-statement-obama-administrations-syrian-rebel-training-program", "Rep. Jeff Duncan Issues Statement on the Obama Administration's Syrian Rebel Training Program", "2015-10-14", "2015", "2015-10", "Republican", "House", "SC", "Jeffrey Duncan", "D000615", "jeffduncan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Yesterday, Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03) released the following statement concerning the termination of the Obama Administrations Syrian rebel training program.\nThe Obama Administration announced last week that they would be ending the Pentagons $500 million program to train and equip Syrian rebels. I am glad that the Administration now sees that this program was not a smart decision, but that call comes about a year too late. Taxpayer dollars have already been spent on a failed program, while moderate rebels fighting in Syria have already turned over their weapons to an al-Qaeda affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra.\nUnlike many of my colleagues, I did not support the Administrations plan to arm the Syrian rebels from the beginning. This program is one that was supposed to train over 5,000 rebel fighters who administration officials hoped would counter ISIL. Instead, this program trained around only 100 fighters that were deployed to Syria, and of those hundred, only about four or five were still fighting in Syria. Most recently, it was reported that one of the U.S.-trained Syrian rebel commanders gave American arms and vehicles to fighters from the Nusra Front.\nWe needed and still need today a bold strategy to combat ISIS. Training unknown Syrian rebels was not a bold strategy. It was one of pale pastels. Nor was it wise to wade into the middle of another countrys civil war without clear objectives, allies, and foresight. I support and have cosponsored legislation that would arm our allies, the Kurds. The Kurds have proven their capability against ISIS, and Defense Secretary Carter has said that the work that has been done with the Kurds in northern Syria is an example of an effective approach.\nISIS presents a direct threat to the U.S. homeland and interests abroad. This Administration has had a weak and ineffective policy in Syria and against the threat of ISIS. I hope now that the President sees that in order to combat this evil, he needs a bold strategy and a clear, attainable objective. ISIS is not and never was a junior varsity team. They are a group of radical terrorists that have directly threatened the U.S. and have taken the lives of at least four Americans. It is past time for the President to lead and engage more forcefully in the battle of ideas to discredit the evil ideology and propaganda of ISIS. Greater offensive action needs to be taken to weaken ISISs appeal, exploit its vulnerabilities, and weaken its influence over people.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://jeffduncan.house.gov/press-release/rep-jeff-duncan-issues-statement-obama-administrations-syrian-rebel-training-program"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.57490698620677, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}