Discussion on Capitol Hill over whether the U.S. should take military action to punish Syria for allegedly using chemical weapons against its own people is heating up, and Illinois lawmakers are weighing their decisions.
On one side of the coin, many worry about war fatigue and fear of triggering greater conflicts in the Middle East. On the other, fear that a failure to take action against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime will “embolden war criminals, dictators and despots for years to come.”
According to a Washington Times article, President Obama spoke to a crowd in Stockholm, Sweden. “"I do think we have to act. Because if we don’t, we are effectively saying that even though we may condemn it and issue resolutions and so forth and so on, somebody who is not shamed by resolutions can continue to act with impunity and those international norms begin to erode and other despots and authoritarian regimes can start looking and saying, ‘That’s something we can get away with,’ ” Mr. Obama said.”
But the decision is not so clear for members of the Illinois delegation. Read the roundup of recent articles below to learn more.
State's delegation split on Syria – Chicago Tribune
"As President Barack Obama gained critical support from House leaders Tuesday for military intervention in Syria over its apparent use of chemical weapons, the uncertainty in his home state's delegation reflects the hurdles that remain in gaining the congressional approval he seeks."
Durbin: Seeking Congressional Approval On Syria Right Call – Illinois Public Media
"The Senate’s second highest-ranking Democrat says President Obama made the right call by turning to Congress about a possible military strike in Syria.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said he has not made up his mind about whether he would support a military strike against Bashar al- Assad’s regime."
Tom Kacich: Congressional delegation pondering Syria position – The News-Gazette
"If Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. Senate, opposes President Obama on the issue of a military strike against Syria, it will be a major surprise."