Signs of US reorientation as Congresswoman visits Syria

A US Congresswoman’s trip to Syria has fuelled further speculation that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is no longer “beyond the pale” in US politics and policymaking circles.

Democrat Tulsi Gabbard who, according to The Washington Post, has charged the Obama administration with funnelling money to Daesh and Al-Qaeda-linked groups in Syria, visited Damascus this week in what her office called a “fact-finding trip…to promote and work for peace.”

Commenting on the Congresswoman’s pro-Assad stance, The Washington Post also stated that Gabbard had called for the Obama administration to abandon all assistance to armed groups and stop seeking Al-Assad’s overthrow, saying that the effort undermines the fight against Daesh.

With the Obama administration taking a hard line against the Assad regime since the Syrian uprising began, this was the first visit of its kind since 2012 and may be seen as the US softening its stance in anticipation of incoming President Donald Trump’s administration.

According to Syrian-conflict watchers, Gabbard’s visit indicates that President Bashar Al-Assad “is no longer beyond the pale in US politics and policymaking.”

Gabbard, who is believed to have been touted as a possible US Secretary of State for the Trump administration, arrived yesterday at Damascus airport, as reported by Syrian daily Al-Watan. She is also expected to travel to Lebanon later this week.

According to Al-Watan, former Democrat Congressman from Ohio Dennis Kucinich was also on the trip, and the US delegation is staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Damascus.

It was reported that Gabbard and Kucinich were flown to war-torn Aleppo “without any Syrian officials.” They visited the city’s old citadel, two archbishoprics and the eastern districts, which was under siege and battered by the Assad regime until it was retaken last month.

The controversial trip is reported to have been approved by the US House Ethics Committee though, “for security reasons”, no disclosure has been made as to who paid for the trip.