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Congressional members back president’s decision to strike Syria
RELATED: U.S. missile strike was punishment, professor says
YOUNGSTOWN
Congressional members say President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a military strike against a Syrian air base in response to chemical weapons used against civilians in that country was the right one.
Some also urged the Republican president to share his strategy before taking further action.
“The U.S. military strike against Syria affirms that our nation will not stand by while international law is broken by the use of chemical weapons against innocent men, women and children,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th. Syrian President Bashar “Assad’s sinister attack against his own people was a crime against humanity, and it is clear that Russia and Iran share responsibility for these war crimes by continuing to militarily support the Assad regime.”
Ryan said he expects a “comprehensive intelligence briefing” on the strike and any future decisions.
“Any long-term operation must take place in consultation with Congress,” he added. “President Trump must finally settle on Syrian policy and provide Congress and the American people with a clear and comprehensive strategy on how to work with our allies to end the Syrian civil war, remove Assad from power and restore human rights and stability to the region.”
“The images this week out of Syria were horrifying: dozens of men, women and children were murdered. The use of chemical weapons is illegal under international law, and the use of them cannot be tolerated anywhere,” said U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th. “The Trump administration is justified in these tactical strikes against the Assad regime, a designated state sponsor of terrorism, [that] has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to commit barbaric acts against its own people.”
The “missile strike appears to be a proportional response for Assad’s brutal killing of innocent civilians, but there are still unanswered questions, including how the strike will impact American forces on the ground fighting ISIS and what this means for long-term military engagement in Syria,” said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Cleveland Democrat. “President Trump needs to come up with a strategy to resolve the Syrian conflict, share his plans with the American people and win their support before taking further action.”
“It was appropriate to hold Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad accountable for his cruel and illegal use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians, including women and children,” said U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from the Cincinnati area. “The Assad regime clearly violated the 2013 Russian-led agreement at the United Nations requiring Syria to turn over all its chemical weapons.”
Portman added: “We now need a comprehensive strategy with clearly defined purpose and objectives for how we achieve our national security goals in Syria and the region. As I have said before, only a coordinated and comprehensive effort by the United States and our allies will help bring an end to the refugee crisis, as well as the violence and devastation that has plagued Syria and the Middle East. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I intend to continue to engage with the Trump administration and my colleagues in the Senate to help flesh out the appropriate American strategy.”
Meanwhile, Mahoning County Republican Party Chairman Mark Munroe said: “President Trump has shown us why America sent him to the White House. In a world lacking in strong leaders, Trump has proven once again we now have one. The world can be a very dangerous place, and America and her allies will be safer because of his leadership.”