Since the end of the cold war, the Middle East has been the center of military overreach in U.S. foreign policy, peaking with the disastrous 2003 invasion of Iraq. None of America’s core national interests in the Middle East warrant a large U.S. military presence — let alone military domination of the region. To better advance U.S. interests, QI works to reduce America’s military footprint, support normal diplomatic relations with all countries, and use U.S. influence to support a locally-led security architecture that would promote peace and stability.
Regional engagement opens the door to improving humanitarian outcomes in Syria and enables Arab states to push back against Iranian influence — all at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. Conversely, by penalizing such engagement, H.R. 3202 damages our relationships with our partners and doubles down on a failed policy of keeping Syria in ruins that harms innocent Syrian civilians trapped under Assad’s rule.
