Sanders: Syria strikes could lead to Middle East quagmire
04/07/17 12:28 PM EDT
Excerpt:
"I’m deeply concerned that these strikes could lead to the United States once again being dragged back into the quagmire of long-term military engagement in the Middle East," Sanders said in a statement. He added that in the wake of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Americans know "that it’s easier to get into a war than get out of one."
“The US must work with all parties to reinforce longstanding international norms against the use of chemical weapons, to hold Russia and Syria to the 2013 deal to destroy these weapons and to see that violators are made accountable," he said.
Sanders, echoing lawmakers in both parties, also called on Trump to come to Congress, explain his strategy and seek authorization before taking additional military action against Assad.
“The Trump administration must explain to the American people exactly what this military escalation in Syria is intended to achieve, and how it fits into the broader goal of a political solution, which is the only way Syria’s devastating civil war ends," he said.
He added that Congress "has a responsibility to weigh in" on using military force against the Syrian government. "As the Constitution requires, the president must come to Congress to authorize any further use of force against the Assad regime," he said.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/327822-sanders-syria-strikes-could-lead-to-middle-east-quagmire
