Levin: Syria Intervention Would Suffer Without Support Of ‘Large Number Of Nations’
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Friday that any potential military intervention in Syria should come after the completion of U.N. inspections and that the effort would be blunted without the support of a "large number of nations."
“I again expressed my view that the United States should not undertake a kinetic strike before the U.N. inspectors complete their work, and that the impact of such a strike would be weakened if it does not have the participation and support of a large number of nations, including Arab nations," Levin said in a statement. "I also urged the Administration to send a powerful message to the Assad regime by immediately getting lethal aid to vetted elements of the Syrian opposition. Doing so can change the balance militarily and also contribute to a political solution in Syria.”
In the release of a declassified intelligence brief and a strongly worded public statement from Secretary of State John Kerry, the White House made its formal case Friday for military intervention in Syria. President Barack Obama, however, has yet to make final decision on the matter.
"We're not considering any open ended commitment. We're not considering any boots on the ground approach," Obama said during a meeting with Baltic leaders at the White House Friday.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/levin-syria-intervention-would-suffer-without-support-of
Manchin Statement on Military Action in Syria
http://www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a15de126-6217-459f-a719-d5658b114e47
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on Syria after a secure briefing from the White House.
“I am deeply concerned by the use of chemical weapons in Syria against innocent people, but after over a decade of war in the Middle East, there needs to be compelling evidence that there is an imminent threat to the security of the American people or our allies before any military action is taken. I do not believe that this situation meets that threshold. I implore the President to immediately call Congress back to Washington and engage in a serious debate on this issue before any military action is taken.”
= new reply since forum marked as read
