Posted on 09/05/2013 10:00:45 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - President Barack Obama continued his efforts Monday to get congressional approval for strikes on Syria.
The president met at the White House with Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham. President Obama wants a limited strike but McCain is calling for more than what he described as "pinprick cruise missiles."
Over the weekend, the President announced he would seek congressional approval for attacks after the administration said Syria used sarin gas in the deadly attacks against its own people.
6 News has spent the day talking with members of Tennessee's congressional delegation getting their perspective on the President's request.
The members of Congress 6 News spoke with represent areas of East Tennessee. They tell 6 News they are glad the President has decided to seek authorization from Congress before taking military action but at this point they say they have many more questions before taking a vote.
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann says he's listening to his constituents concerns about taking military action against Syria.
"After Iraq and Afghanistan my constituents have made it clear that they are war weary and that there are no set goals that they can see," said Congressman Fleischmann.
Congressman Phil Roe says the people in his district have also made it clear they are against striking Syria.
"I just haven't heard anybody voice any real enthusiasm about doing this. Everybody hates that you have people in the world who will gas or use chemical weapons on their own people. It's awful but I don't know how we can straighten that out," said Congressman Roe.
Last week 6 News spoke with Congressman Jimmy Duncan about America's role in the conflict in Syria.
"I don't think our people want us to be in a state of permanent war and I don't think we can afford it. I just don't want to see any more young Americans killed in civil wars in the Middle East," said Representative Duncan.
US Senator Lamar Alexander is concerned about the consequences of a military strike in Syria. He released this statement saying "During the congressional debate I will assess whether a military strike would do more harm than good by setting off a chain of consequences that could involve American fighting men and women in another long-term Middle Eastern conflict."
US Senator Bob Corker said, "The American people deserve to hear more from the administration about why military action in Syria is necessary, what it will achieve and how it will be sufficiently limited to keep the U.S. from being drawn further into the Syrian conflict."
The lawmakers 6 News spoke with say they will listen to all the intelligence during classified briefings, debate then vote. They say they will represent the people and vote the way the majority of the constituents want.
The earliest a vote on military action could take place would be next week when the full Congress returns from recess.
“Everybody hates that you have people in the world who will gas or use chemical weapons on their own people. It’s awful but I don’t know how we can straighten that out,” said Congressman Roe.”
If you make a list of the countries willing to slaughter their own people, the list will be heavily populated by Muslim countries with a sprinkling of socialist authoritarian states.
East Tenn ping
go Vols
Instead he voted for the resolution in the Foreign Affairs Committee.
He can go pound sand....
Salt...pound salt.
"The lawmakers 6 News spoke with say they will listen to all the intelligence during classified briefings ..." It is quite obvious that the critters we've sent to Congress are still clueless regarding John 'the murderer' Brennan and his 'special intel' lies that get swallowed whole by these feckless critters.
Roe stole the GOP nomination with the help of Democrats out from under Congressman David Davis.
You can always count on Light in the loafers Lamar to stand in bi-partisanship with the republicans sometimes and the democrats all the time.
Corkhole is a waste of flesh, that mealy mouth sack of liberal goat crap.
I didn’t care for corker but I sure wasn’t going to vote for any Ford outta Memphis...low expectations for ‘Corkle” and he didn’t “disappoint”...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.