Ben Cardin actually said...

I just urge you that in the OMB-type bureaucracies, these types of programs are not well understood, and unless we have an advocate, it can ...

We need to know what the military mission is. We need to know what the diplomatic mission is.

Mr. Assad must be held accountable for his activities, and that cannot be compromised in a final political settlement.

It looks like they are setting him up to be immune from being held accountable for his war crimes.