Politics & Government
Rep. Frelinghuysen to Vote Against Strike on Syria—Do You Agree?
Now is the time to tell Frelinghuysen where you stand. Should he vote in favor of the Syria attack? Vote in our poll and let us know in the comments.
A week after President Barack Obama said he would seek Congressional approval to take military action against Syria for an alleged chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) said the president’s plan lacks clarity and he will not vote to authorize a strike.
“Like all Americans, I am horrified by the deaths of so many people who lost their lives in the sarin gas attack,” Frelinghuysen said in a press release. “But I do not believe that the President’s plans will change the course of this civil war and I cannot vote to authorize his military strike."
After briefs by senior Obama Administration officials on Capitol Hill, Frelinghuysen said there is little doubt that Assad used deadly gas to kill more than 1,400 men, women and children on Aug. 21.
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However, Frelinghuysen said what he did not hear was “much clarity about the President’s strategic military plans” during those briefings.
The Congressman said he looks forward to hearing the President’s address on Tuesday night to hear more details about the military strategy.
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“As Congress prepares for its formal debate on this request, the President will be addressing the nation on Tuesday evening,” Frelinghuysen said. “I will be listening, again, to hear how the President justifies his strategy.”
Frelinghuysen criticized Obama’s leadership in the Middle East and cited his policies as destabilizing the region.
After visiting the region last month, Frelinghuysen said, “My visit confirmed that a clear lack of Presidential leadership has left our policies in this vital region in shambles: this Administration has virtually destroyed a valuable 30-year friendship with Egypt, allowed Iran to continue its march to a nuclear weapons capability, threatened the stability of Jordan and left our best friend in the region, Israel, incredibly vulnerable!”
Original Article Posted Sept. 4President Barack Obama this weekend said he will let the U.S. congress decide on whether to attack Syria after an alleged chemical weapons attack by Syrian President Bashar Assad that is reported to have killed more than 1,400 people and violated international rules of war.
As Americans are "weary of war," the president said in his Saturday address to the public that putting the decision in the hands of the people's representatives was more in line with the country's democratic ideals.
"I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course, and our actions will be even more effective," he said.
So as Congressional committees grill Secretary of State John Kerry and Congress prepares to vote on whether or not to strike Syria, how do you think your Congressman, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11), should vote?
Frelinghuysen, who just returned from the Middle East region, wrote on his website, "Now that the President has decided to ask Congress for authority to strike Syria, I await the debate.
“... While I am horrified by the deaths of so many innocent men, women and children, I want to know how the President’s strategic plans will change the course of this civil war! (sic) I cannot support any authorization unless and until my questions are answered fully. ... My sole interest is in doing what is best for the United States of America."
Now is the time to tell Frelinghuysen where you stand. Should he vote in favor of the Syria attack? Vote in our poll above and let us know in the comments.
-- Henry Powderly contributed to this article.
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