; Whereas there are a small number of troops on the ground in Syria to train, equip, advise, and assist United States partners in the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria; Whereas the governments of the Russian Federation and Iran are fighting alongside the Assad regime against United States allies and interests; Whereas the abrupt decision of the President to remove all United States forces in Syria without consultation enables Iran and the Russian Federation to expand their influence and presence in Syria and beyond and threatens United States partners in Syria and Israel and other allies in the region; and Whereas the decision of the President to precipitously withdraw United States troops will leave the people of Syria even more vulnerable to violence from terrorist groups and provide time and space for al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria to reconstitute and launch attacks against the United States and our allies: Now, therefore, be it