Lee Attends SASC Briefing on Bergdahl
Jun 10, 2014
Senator Mike Lee, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), attended a meeting of SASC members this morning to receive a classified briefing from senior Pentagon officials on the prisoner exchange of five high-level Taliban leaders for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
The transfer of these detainees from Guantanamo Bay violated federal law requiring the Department of Defense to notify Congress 30 days prior to the transfer of any detainees from that facility. Following the briefing, Senator Lee remained concerned that the administration did not fully recognize the security implications of transferring these detainees and allowing them to eventually return to Afghanistan.
Said Senator Lee, "These five detainees were important leaders of the former Taliban government and had previously been deemed too dangerous to transfer, as recently as 2010. We still have serious questions about why suddenly they were no longer dangerous, and whether their return to Afghanistan could result in undermining over a decade of American work in that country that cost the lives of thousands of our service members."
Senator Lee will continue to push for answers to these questions and ensure that these decisions are being made more responsibly and with greater oversight.
The transfer of these detainees from Guantanamo Bay violated federal law requiring the Department of Defense to notify Congress 30 days prior to the transfer of any detainees from that facility. Following the briefing, Senator Lee remained concerned that the administration did not fully recognize the security implications of transferring these detainees and allowing them to eventually return to Afghanistan.
Said Senator Lee, "These five detainees were important leaders of the former Taliban government and had previously been deemed too dangerous to transfer, as recently as 2010. We still have serious questions about why suddenly they were no longer dangerous, and whether their return to Afghanistan could result in undermining over a decade of American work in that country that cost the lives of thousands of our service members."
Senator Lee will continue to push for answers to these questions and ensure that these decisions are being made more responsibly and with greater oversight.
Lee: President's Syria Proposal Raises Security Questions
May 28, 2014
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Lee said Obama’s announcement to expand support to Syrian rebels raises serious security questions regarding the composition of Syrian opposition forces and the ability of the United States to ensure that terrorist groups do not have access to U.S. assistance.
Last week, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) passed its annual authorization bill for the Department of Defense, which included a provision that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to provide a broad range of assistance, including lethal aid, to opposition forces in Syria.
“The situation in Syria is desperate and we should be constantly assessing it for threats to U.S. security, but I am concerned that sending American weapons and training into this crisis could be like pouring gas on a fire,” Lee stated. “When senior members of the president’s national security team cannot guarantee that assistance won’t fall into the hands of our enemies, or that the people we train today won’t be fighting alongside al-Qaeda tomorrow, we should be very careful in considering approaches that could assist extremists in that conflict.”
Following the March 6 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), CENTCOM Commander General Lloyd Austin stated in an answer for the record:
“No, we cannot guarantee the assistance we provide doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Undoubtedly, some weapons and funds flowing into Syria wind up in the hands of extremists such as Al Nusrah Front or the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).”
On February 11, during a SASC hearing regarding the relationship of moderate opposition and extremist groups in Syria, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Senator Lee:
“Well, they are an agreement of convenience, I would say. Oftentimes, these groups will apparently – which are quite fluid, by the way – may disagree ideologically, but will, if it’s convenient for them in a tactical context, agree to work together.”
The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, was reported out of committee by a vote of 25-1, with Senator Lee as the only “NO” vote due to the Syrian provision, as well as other concerns.
Lee Statement on the Passing of Ariel Sharon
Jan 11, 2014
WASHINGTON - Today, Sen. Mike Lee released the following statement regarding the passing of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon:
"Ariel Sharon was a great military and political leader who will be remembered as one of Israel's heroes and a tireless statesman in pursuit of a lasting peace."
Lee Opposes Intervention in Syrian Civil War
Sep 5, 2013
The administration has indicated its goal is to use limited military action to significantly degrade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s ability to use chemical weapons against his own people and to deter future attacks. After hearing from the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in a top-secret briefing, I do not believe that the range of options the president is considering will accomplish this military objective, and therefore I cannot now support intervention into the Syrian civil war.
The U.N. Needs Reform
Aug 1, 2013
Today, I voted against President Obama’s nomination of Samantha Power as Ambassador to the United Nations. The United Nations is in need of swift and sweeping reform, and I do not believe Ms. Power is the right person to lead this effort.
Murphy, Udall, Lee, Paul introduce bill to block military funds to Syria
Jun 20, 2013
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit the President from using any funds on activities that would escalate U.S. involvement in the Syrian civil war.
Senator Lee Questions Hagel on Defense Budget and Missile Defense
Apr 19, 2013
Senator Lee questioned Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, this week in the Senate Armed Services Committee over the President's Defense Budget. Senator Lee believes one of our highest priorities for national defense, and our nation as a whole, is to decrease our federal debt through a balanced budget. The President's budget increases the national debt by the time he leaves office in 2017, and fails to provide leadership in addressing sequestration and protecting defense programs vital to our national security. Senator Lee also questioned Secretary Hagel about the recent decision to deploy 14 additional missile defense units to the West Coast, and will continue to advocate for strengthening our strategic defense against threats from North Korea and Iran.
Lee Opposes UN Arms Trade Treaty
Apr 3, 2013
The United Nations Arms Trade Treaty is deeply flawed, which is why a majority of senators recently voted to stop the administration from continuing to push it
Treaty backers can't have it both ways
Dec 6, 2012
Supporters of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are attempting to have it both ways. They dismiss as a myth any concerns about protecting sovereignty or parental rights because the treaty lacks a formal enforcement mechanism. They suggest that Congress can simply ignore any United Nations demand that isn't in our national interest.
Lee Applauds Vote to Protect Parental Rights, American Sovereignty
Dec 4, 2012
Today, Senator Mike Lee applauded the Senate for voting to protect American sovereignty, uphold the rights of parents, and block the recognition of so-called international "entitlement rights." Thirty-seven senators joined Lee in opposing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in an effort to ensure certain provisions would not become the "supreme law of the land."
