Speaker Ryan wrong-footed Vladimir Putin and the genocidal Syrian regime by passing harsh sanctions against Assad yesterday – which President Obama signed into law.
Republicans and Democrats recognize the need to isolate the Assad regime for its atrocities against its people. https://t.co/kUcdx9dZZR
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) November 16, 2016
The bill had broad bipartisan support, and Ryan followed up with a further statement that ‘Democrats and Republicans are united’ on opposing Syria.
Furthermore, the UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson – who has supported President-Elect Trump, and told liberals to stop whining – also said firmly that British policy would be to continue to attack Assad.
Welcome further #sanctions against #syria regime ministers. #UK continues to work with international partners to end the conflict.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 14, 2016
President-Elect Trump had mentioned during the campaign that he might side with Putin in Syria, but the Republican majority is effectively and respectfully sending a message that this will not be possible.
Trump, as President, could not reverse these Obama-Ryan sanctions without the consent of Congress – which it seems clear he will not get.
Ryan’s statement left the allegedly pro-Russian faction in the transition team, headed by Mr. Bannon, nowhere to go, and at the same time boosted Mr. Trump’s many constitutional conservative backers, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, VP-Elect Pence, and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Ryan’s statement said:
Republicans and Democrats recognize the need to isolate the Assad regime for its continued atrocities against the Syrian people. I’m glad the White House has stopped blocking these critical sanctions, which are a necessary response to Assad’s crimes against humanity. I want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for working together in a bipartisan fashion to bring this bill to the floor.
Furthermore, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson referred on Nov. 14th to his own work to obtain new UK-EU sanctions against both Iran and Syria – two areas of Russian interest. The next day Speaker Ryan announced the new sanctions against Assad – but he also announced that sanctions against Iran would be extended for ten years.
In #Brussels meeting European partners on foreign policy priorities inc #Syria & #Iran. US elections an opportunity for both UK & Europe pic.twitter.com/DuQQyhEO7J
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 14, 2016
BREAKING → The House just voted to extend the #Iran Sanctions Act for a decade. pic.twitter.com/yi1xZWEfva
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) November 15, 2016
That would mean Mr. Trump would prefer the strong, constitutional conservatives who both support Trump and who will work with Speaker Ryan to advance Trump’s agenda, such as his choice of Richard Grenell.
Rand Paul opposed the President-Elect’s possible choice of John Bolton – a Trump and Brexit supporter – and threatened Trump with a filibuster if he dares to nominate Bolton.
Rand Paul tells me he will do "whatever I can" to stop a John Bolton nomination. And… there's our first filibuster threat against Trump
— Jeremy W. Peters (@jwpetersNYT) November 15, 2016
However, President-Elect Donald Trump is determined to bring the nation together, sources in the transition team say, and is likely to accept the determination of the House to oppose Russia and Assad. He will not want to have his nominations defeated as, sources say, he wants to get on with the people’s business.
As we reported, the Trump transition team is appointing strong and experienced conservative leaders to key posts. It is speculated that many of the more unlikely names being floated come from Mr. Bannon, who, sources say, is already less influential within the transition team than Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
