CBO: We Can’t Estimate Cost of Intervening in Syria

Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

The Congressional Budget Office has published its official statement on how much American taxpayers would need to cover if the full Congress were to approve the authorization for the use of military force in Syria (S.J. Res. 21) that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved last week.

The CBO’s bottom line: There is no bottom line to the U.S. military intervention in Syria that was approved by the Senate committee in its resolution.

“The Administration has not detailed how it would use the authority that would be provided by this resolution; thus, CBO has no basis for estimating the costs of implementing S. J. Res. 21,” said the CBO’s four-paragraph statement on the matter.

“S. J. Res. 21 would authorize the President to use military force against the government of Syria, for up to 90 days, in response to its use of chemical weapons,” said CBO. “Prior to the use of force, the President would be required to provide a determination to the Congress addressing several criteria to show that such action is necessary and in the national interest. In addition, it would require the President to submit to the Congress a strategy for negotiating a political settlement to the Syrian conflict, a comprehensive review of U.S. policy towards Syria, and periodic reports on the progress of military operations.”

Last night, in a nationally televised address, President Barack Obama said that he had asked congressional leaders to postpone any final vote on whether to authorize him to use force in Syria.

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