Foreign-policy panel heads on Capitol Hill say they were surprised by Secretary of State John Kerry’s announcement to supply non-lethal aid to Syria.
They weren’t informed of the decision beforehand, it seems.
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — the very same that Mr. Kerry once chaired — said his staffers had even spoken with State Department officials in the lead-up to the announcement, but were advised of nothing, The Hill reported.
“So, we’re going to have a little discussion with them about that,” he said, in The Hill. “I mean, look, we probably support the policy. But we were a little disappointed that no heads up was given. It’s not a good way to start out.”
The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Oklahoma’s James Inhofe, said he wasn’t given any hint of what was to come, either.
“Isn’t that strange? Yeah, I should have” been given a heads up, he said, in The Hill.
SEE ALSO: Kerry announces aid package of meals, medicine for Syrian rebels
The Hill reported the Democratic chairmen of the two committees, Sens. Robert Menendez and Carl Levin, weren’t given information, either.
Mr. Kerry announced on Thursday the United States would provide Syrian opposition fighters with medical and food supplies, and $60 million to use for security.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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