MO BROOKS OF ALABAMA VOTING ``NO'' ON ATTACKING SYRIA; Congressional Record Vol. 159, No. 119

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MO BROOKS OF ALABAMA VOTING \\\`\\\`NO'' ON ATTACKING SYRIA

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Joyce). The Chair recognizes the

gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.

Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. 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, the

Obama 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.''

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.''

I have participated in classified hearings with Secretary of State

John Kerry, National Security Adviser Susan Rice, and many others. I

have listened to President Obama. 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. 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 two-to-one ratio. In Alabama's Fifth

Congressional District, 1,272 citizens have contacted my office about

Syria, and 1,267 citizens oppose attacking Syria. A scant five citizens

out of 1,272 support attacking Syria.

The President last night told America that there is no evidence that

Syria is a security threat to America that supports preemptive military

action. Yet an attack makes Syria and its allies a security threat.

President Obama erred when he made Syria's chemical weapons a red line.

But a President's verbal gaffes don't justify war. A Syrian war costs

money America does not have. Every dollar spent attacking Syria worsens

America's deficit and debt, weakens our economy, undermines our ability

to pay for national security, and increases the risk of even more

defense layoffs and furloughs.

An American attack on Syria aids and abets Syrian rebels. Syrian

rebels have beheaded Christians solely because they are Christians. One

rebel leader killed a Syrian soldier, cut open his chest, took out his

heart, ate it, and then bragged about. Another rebel leader personally

executed helpless prisoners of war. I question the wisdom of helping

rebels who may be even more evil and barbaric than Syrian President

Assad. Yet that is exactly what President Obama proposes.

The White House Syrian strategy is conflicting and amorphous. The

President claims he does not seek regime change. Yet in 2012, his

administration said the exact opposite. President Obama claims attacks

will deter Syria's chemical weapons use, yet his Secretary of State

insists that attacks will be \\\`\\\`unbelievably small.''

I have reservations about this administration's ability to handle a

delicate foreign policy matter. This administration bungled its Fast

and Furious gun-running program, killing hundreds of innocent Mexicans

and an American Border Patrol agent. This administration botched

Benghazi and threw in a coverup for good measure. This administration

illegally uses the Internal Revenue Service to attack political

adversaries. The list goes on and on.

President Obama has cultivated cheerleaders but not players on the

field whose militaries will help America attack Syria. America cannot

perpetually be the world's only policeman.

In sum, I believe attacking Syria unilaterally makes matters worse,

not better. 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.

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