Ohio senators split on vote to arm Syrian opposition

The Senate gave approval Thursday to President Barack Obama’s plan to arm Syrian opposition groups in the fight against Islamic State militants, but Ohio’s two senators split on the issue.

Republican Sen. Rob Portman voted along with 77 other senators in favor of arming the Syrian rebels while Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown voted against it.

In a statement, Brown said that the Islamic State “poses a very real threat and the president is right to broad coalition to combat it. However, history has shown the dangers of arming rebel forces in volatile regions. I’m not ready today to place the U.S. in the midst of a three-way civil war.”

About the Author