Warren, Markey Oppose Funding Syrian Rebels

Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey are opposing President Barack Obama's request to train and arm Syrian rebels for a war against Islamic state militants.

Markey called the request "too open-ended'' and said it could be used to extend American involvement in Syria for a decade or more. He said he was also concerned about the potential use of American ground troops for combat.

The Senate approved the request late Thursday on a 73-22 vote.

On Wednesday the House also passed the measure on a 273-156 vote.

Just two members of Massachusetts' all-Democratic House delegation - congressmen Stephen Lynch and Richard Neal - backed the proposal.

The rest of Massachusetts' nine-member delegation - Reps. Michael Capuano, Katherine Clark, William Keating, Joe Kennedy, James McGovern, John Tierney and Niki Tsongas - opposed it.

[Associated Press]