Politics

Democratic Congresswoman Says U.S. Is Funding And Arming ISIS

(Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Alex Pfeiffer White House Correspondent
Font Size:

Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said on Twitter Saturday that the United States is funding and arming Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

“If you or I gave money, weapons or support to al-Qaeda or ISIS, we would be thrown in jail. Why does our gov get a free pass on this?,” the congresswoman from Hawaii wrote. Gabbard is a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services.

Members of Liwa (brigade) Hamzah, a newly formed Islamist brigade from the Syrian eastern city of Deir Ezzor, hold flags of Jebhat al-Nusra as they take part in a rally in the centre of the city to announce their formation on February 25, 2013. Syria's opposition and foreign powers hold crucial talks in Rome with Washington suggesting it is ready to boost support to rebels in their struggle against President Bashar al-Assad. AFP PHOTO/ZAC BAILLIE (Photo credit should read ZAC BAILLIE/AFP/Getty Images)

Members of Liwa (brigade) Hamzah, a newly formed Islamist brigade from the Syrian eastern city of Deir Ezzor, hold flags of Jebhat al-Nusra as they take part in a rally in the centre of the city to announce their formation on February 25, 2013. Syria’s opposition and foreign powers hold crucial talks in Rome with Washington suggesting it is ready to boost support to rebels in their struggle against President Bashar al-Assad. AFP PHOTO/ZAC BAILLIE/Getty Images

She introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act Thursday. While introducing the bill, Gabbard cited New York Times and Wall Street Journal articles that said the rebels the U.S. is supporting in Syria are allied with Al-Nusra, an Al-Qeada affiliate.

 

“The CIA has also been funneling weapons and money through Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and others who provide direct and indirect support to groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda,” Gabbard said. Gabbard’s claim is backed up by a speech former secretary of state Hillary Clinton delivered to Goldman Sachs. Clinton said Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are funding Jihadists in Syria.

“This madness must end. We must stop arming terrorists,” Gabbard said. Her bill will prohibit any federal agency from supporting a terrorist group or funneling support through other countries that directly or indirectly support terrorists.

A few weeks ago Gabbard met with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower. Her bill is co-sponsored by Trump ally California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.

She said on CNN Friday that she’s glad that Trump’s “talking about ending our country’s interventionist regime change policies.”