SYRIA; Congressional Record Vol. 159, No. 118

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SYRIA

Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I know that--and what we have heard this

morning--what is rightfully at the forefront of all of our minds this

week is the debate about whether to authorize the use of force in

Syria. This is a very serious matter, as we all know. It raises a

number of geopolitical and national security issues.

The decision to undertake military action is not one to be taken

lightly. I am very aware that people are war-weary, that they are

concerned about the consequences of the use of military force.

Consequently, I believe we should pursue every possible diplomatic

solution prior to engaging in military action.

I welcome the possibility of international cooperation to secure and

destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile. I hope that Russia is being

serious and that they will take real, legitimate actions to quickly

follow through on what they have raised with their effort to try to

encourage Asad to give up his chemical weapons to international

control. I am working with some of my colleagues on the Senate Foreign

Relations Committee on an amendment to the resolution that would

incorporate this new development and pressure the Syrians to ensure

that we see credible concrete steps in any possible effort to place

their chemical weapons under international inspection. I look forward

to hearing from the President today and this evening, and I look

forward to the debate later this week as we consider the situation in

Syria.

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