By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R) from Alabama announced that he would Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today expressed his opposition to a resolution for the use of American military force in Syria.
Senator Shelby said that he made his decision after reviewing the intelligence reports and attending a Senate Republican Conference lunch with President Obama (D) today.
Sen. Shelby said in a written statement, “I will firmly oppose a resolution currently under consideration by the Senate that calls for the use of American military force in Syria’s civil war. I have heard the President’s argument. It is weak and vague, in my judgment.”
Sen. Shelby continued, “President Obama has failed to articulate a compelling American interest in this conflict. He has also failed to clearly explain what he intends to achieve and how he intends to achieve it. And he has failed to assure us that an attack would not further destabilize an already unstable part of the world.”
Sen. Shelby concluded, “I will vote against President Obama’s plan because it appears that he does not really have one.”
On Tuesday, President Obama asked both Houses of Congress to postpone their votes while giving the Secretary of State time to negotiate with Russia, Great Britain, and Syria over the handover of chemical weapons.
Also on Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R) from Kentucky told Fox News that at this moment he does not think that the President has the votes to pass an authorization of force motion in either the House or the Senate.
Sen. Shelby is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was first elected in 1986.
