On Saturday, President Barack Obama announced that he believes the United States should use military force against Syria to punish Bashar Assad’s regime for the alleged use of chemical weapons. In a speech from the White House, the president said he would seek Congressional approval before any strike. Here’s how Montana’s congressional delegation reacted to the news.
Sen. Jon Tester: “The President has made the right decision to seek authorization from Congress and I will carefully review the situation before making a decision on how I will vote.”
Sen. Max Baucus: “The President is right to seek Congressional approval and I am ready to participate in a full and transparent debate in the Senate. I am carefully reviewing all intelligence and talking to Montanans before making any decisions. There is no question that Bashar al-Assad’s actions against his own people are reprehensible. At the same time, we need to be very careful about any type of military intervention, and make sure we understand and are prepared to deal with all possible repercussions. After two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we need to focus our resources on creating good-paying jobs here in America.”
Rep. Steve Daines: “I am glad to see the President agreeing to my request—and the demands of the American people—for Congressional approval before any potential military action in Syria. I will closely scrutinize intelligence suggesting that the Syrian regime has unleashed weapons of mass destruction against innocent civilians. Like many Montanans I’ve spoken to, however, I do not want to put our country center stage into a conflict where the objective isn’t clear, the outcome is uncertain and American lives are in jeopardy. I will not support the use of military force unless I’m convinced that our national security is at risk and the President’s military strategy will successfully secure our interests.”