Georgia’s Republican U.S. senators backed military intervention in Syria on Saturday while Peach State U.S. House members from both parties balked, following President Barack Obama’s announcement that he will seek congressional approval to strike.
Congress is set to consider an authorization for the use of military force against Syria when it returns the week of Sept. 9.
Both Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Georgia’s U.S. senators, said that is too long to wait to respond to the Syrian regime’s apparent Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs.
“While I appreciate the president seeking congressional approval, he should have already presented Congress with a strategy and objectives for military action, including what impact this will have on our allies and enemies alike in the region,” Chambliss, the top Republican on the Intelligence Committee, said in a prepared statement.
“Leadership is about reacting to a crisis, and quickly making the hard and tough decisions. The president should have demanded Congress return immediately and debate this most serious issue.”
Isakson also was glad to see Congress have a voice, but wished Obama had called lawmakers back “to vote on this immediately rather than waiting until Sept. 9,” he said in a statement. “I support the use of military action in Syria. If we fail to take strong action against Syria for this horrendous attack, then we are sending a signal to Syria as well as to Iran and North Korea that they are accountable to no one.”
Georgia’s House members were mostly cool to the idea, with Republican U.S. Reps. Paul Broun of Athens — who is running for Senate next year — and Doug Collins of Gainesville solidly against military action.
U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, a DeKalb County Democrat, appeared to be on his way to joining them, saying in a statement: “At this time, I am deeply skeptical that use of force is in our national interest.”
Other members were less certain about their votes, though they were pleased Congress will be included in the process.
U.S. Rep. John Barrow, an Augusta Democrat, plans to return to Washington on Sunday for the first full members’ briefing on Syria, according to spokesman Richard Carbo.
“He supports the need to include Congress, and strongly urges the House leadership to bring members back right away,” Carbo said.
Obama administration officials have kept key members of Congress in the loop on Syria mostly through telephone briefings so far.
U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, a Savannah Republican who also is running for Senate, is leaning toward a no vote, said spokesman Chris Crawford. But Crawford added that Kingston “wants to be fully briefed on the intelligence, strategy and objectives.”
Another Republican Senate candidate, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey of Marietta, did not tip his hand in a statement from spokeswoman Jen Talaber.
“The congressman believes seeking congressional approval is the appropriate action to take,” Talaber said. “While the use of chemical weapons is intolerable, the United States must not get mired down in the Syrian civil war. Rep. Gingrey is pleased Congress will consider a resolution regarding military action.”
The country as a whole needs more convincing, said Ranger Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Graves.
“In seeking support and legitimacy from Congress, President Obama must clearly explain to the American people what our objectives are in Syria and to what extent our military and treasury will be used to achieve those ends,” Graves said in a statement.
In an interview with WABE-Radio on Friday, U.S. Rep. David Scott, an Atlanta Democrat, expressed his own skepticism: “Where is our national security threat with what has happened there?”
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