By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Congressman Mo Brooks (R) from Huntsville, in an e-letter to constituents, said that he had concerns about President Obama’s proposed attack on Syria.
Rep. Brooks said, “Last week, I spoke to the U.S. House, stating my concerns about President Obama’s proposal to attack Syria – even though America’s national security is not at risk. I wanted to share my speech with you on this important issue:”
Rep. Brooks addressed the U.S. House of Representatives, “Mr. Speaker, President Obama, without consulting Congress or the American people, intervened in Libya’s civil war, resulting in the murder of four Americans, including our ambassador, in Benghazi, while creating yet another fertile terrorist recruiting ground. “Repeating its Libya mistake, in September, 2012, his Administration declared that America will intervene in Syria’s civil war and work ‘to support a Syrian opposition to hasten the day when Assad falls.’”
Rep. Brooks continued, “Shortly thereafter, I stood on this floor, stated my opposition to America’s intervening in yet another civil war, and argued that, ‘America must stop spending our treasury and risking American lives for those who neither appreciate our sacrifices, nor believe in basic liberties like freedom of religion and freedom of speech.’ “
The conservative Alabama Congressman said, “I have participated in classified hearings with Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, and many others. I have listened to the President. The arguments for attacking Syria are unpersuasive. Absent substantially different circumstances, and consistent with my 2012 opposition to intervening in Syria’s civil war, I will vote against attacking Syria, if and when Congress has that vote.”
Rep. Brooks said, “I reject the President’s argument that the best way to keep Syrians from killing Syrians is for Americans to kill Syrians. America has peaceful options. We should pursue them more vigorously.“There is not the required public support to attack Syria. Americans oppose attacking Syria by a 2 to 1 ratio.”
Rep. Brooks said 1,267 citizens have contacted his office opposing attacking Syria, while just five citizens supported attacking Syria. Rep. Brooks said, “The President erred when he made Syria’s chemical weapons a Red Line. But a president’s gaffes do not justify war.”
Brooks said that a Syrian war costs money that America does not have and worsens America’s deficit and debt. Brooks said that an American attack on Syria would help Syrian rebels who have beheaded Christians solely because they are Christians.
Congressman Brooks said, “One rebel leader killed a Syrian soldier, cut open his chest, took out his heart, ate it, and then bragged about it. Another rebel leader personally executed helpless prisoners of war.” Brooks said that the rebels may be even more evil and barbaric than Syrian President Assad, yet that is exactly what President Obama proposes.”
Brooks called the White House Syrian strategy, “Conflicting and amorphous.”
Brooks told his fellow members of Congress, “I have reservations about this Administration’s ability to handle a delicate foreign policy matter. This Administration bungled its Fast & Furious Gun-Running program, killing hundreds of innocent Mexicans and an American border patrol agent. This Administration botched Benghazi and threw in a cover-up for good measure. This Administration illegally uses the Internal Revenue Service to attack political adversaries. The list goes on and on.”
Brooks said that America cannot perpetually be the world’s only policeman and that attacking Syria unilaterally makes matters worse, not better and, “Absent a major international effort to punish Syrian President Assad for his inhumane and criminal use of chemical weapons, I cannot and will not in good conscience vote on the House Floor or in the Foreign Affairs or Armed Services committees to attack Syria.”
Congressman Mo Brooks represents Alabama’s fifth congressional district.
