From the office of Congressman Andy Harris:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. released the following statement on the authorization to use military force being considered by Congress against Syria:
“I appreciate President Obama fulfilling his constitutional obligation by seeking Congressional authorization before using military force in Syria. There are serious questions about whether taking military action against Syria is in our national security interest and how the United States should respond to nations around the world who use chemical weapons against their own citizens. The Administration needs to make the case to Congress and the American people why military intervention is needed and clearly state the scope of the planned intervention. The decision to engage militarily is one of the most serious a member of Congress can make, and, although at this point I would not vote for military intervention, I plan to examine all of the evidence before making a decision.“
native says
I f****** hope not, Representative Harris! A vote for any intervention in Syria is a vote out of office. The American people are done. The jig is up. A strike against the Syrian government, no matter how horrible they may seem, is a strike in support of Al-Nusra Front. For those of you that have never heard that name, I urge you to look it up right now. Our President wants to empower the Al-Nusra Front. You will be hearing that name again soon, learn it, because our tax dollars are supporting it, and it should be making us VERY angry. VERY, VERY ANGRY!!!
Justin A. Glimmer says
Conspiracy theory anyone? I think “native” just might need an adult beverage (or two).
And Andy, would you be against this action if the sitting president was a Republican?
Cdev says
He is not against it…..he is undecided!
Fed up says
JAG – you may not like native’s wording but he’s right on the money. Not only is this a no-win situation, it is a huge negative to the US and the US alone. Enough of the “imperatives” from Kerry – where has our government (not to mention the rest of the world) been throughout the turmoil and massive casualties of Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan? Where have the countries been during the chaos of Egypt and the many thousand dead in in the largest and most influencial Arab country, or in Libya? There is no end game here and our homeland is not facing any more or less risk by allowing a civil war in Syria to continue without our meddling. Vote NO Rep. Harris!
Kharn says
I do not support Jabhat al-Nursa; if you vote to assist them in any form, I will vote against your reelection.
Cdev says
Do you support using chemical weapons on people?
Kharn says
No, but we should let the Saudis, Jordanians, etc deal with this can of worms while we enjoy a breather. We need to avoid any and every action that could lead to stronger Al Qaida affiliates in any region of the world.
Cdev says
Fair but what if they fail to deal with it effectively?
Kharn says
Then the proper course of action would have been for Mr Obama to ask for Mr Putin’s assistance, given Russia’s interest in their naval facilities at Syria’s port and Syria’s desire for Russian military hardware and money. Unfortunately, Mr Putin does not have the best relations with Mr Obama due to several large (intentional but foolhardy) snubs from our side, so getting him to consider reining in Mr Assad is something he’ll do solely when he feels Mr Assad is hurting Russian interests, regardless of our pleas.
Attacking Syrian interests could very well spark WWIII if the Russians suffer collateral damage or if Iran throws a few missiles towards Israel. I’m not interested in stopping either Mr Assad or Al Qaida’s friends in Jabhat al-Nursa enough to support risking that. Let the Saudis and Jordanians clear it up as fellow Arabs & Muslims, or let Russia solve it as Syria’s biggest friend, but in either case, we need to avoid direct military involvement.
Cdev says
Look I don’t think we need to be taking sides in a civil war; but taking a blind eye to chemical weapons use is not OK! If we sit by until this guy or Iran uses these things against Isreal and than our treaty obligations bring us in we will be dealing with a bigger problem. Simply dealing with the chemical weapons issue will make this guy realize if he doesn’t want us to support the rebels he needs to cease than we can avoid the bigger problem and scare Russia and Iran to stay out!
Kharn says
And how would you propose neutering Mr Assad’s chemical stockpile? To remove all possible chemical weapons from Assad’s regime would mean a massed invasion of Syria to find and seize every possible weapons bunker, and complete destruction of a huge number of industrial facilities (given how deadly many industrial chemicals can be).
The only other option is a diplomatic solution, which must come from Mr Putin.
NoAgenda says
You guys are looking at this all wrong. The media and Obama Administration have made a Straw Man argument to focus on whether or not to bomb Syria, and not who truly used the Chemical weapons. There is no tangible evidence that Assad used these weapons. In fact a report out yesterday by Russia sees that the weapon casing and other evidence is consistent with that of the rebels. This is a thorough report, and the rest of the world does not see reason to join us because of lack of evidence. If you were to then reply to this saying “Well of course Russia sided with Assad in the report, they have interests with him” , I ask you the same thing about our “US” interests over there. Just listen to Obama when he said we need to “protect the free flow of energy” over there referring to our pipelines. Or you could look at the stock of military contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon (manufacturers of the Tomahawk missile) which have nearly doubled in the past few months. Where do our interests lie?
Cdev says
Not saying we go in and sieze them….that is the last thing we should do is go in there. However bombing something that is near and dear to him but does not dramatically shift the balance of power, followed up with a statement that informs him next time he does it this will look like a walk in the park would send the message that we don’t care about your civil war but it better remain chemical weapon free and no mass genocide of non-combatents!
Kharn says
Cdev:
Please point out a suitable target that:
1) Is “near and dear” to Mr Assad’s heart.
2) Will not enrage the Russians.
3) Will not aide Al Qaeda’s friends in their quest for power in Syria.
Reagan bombed Gaddafi’s palace to bring him to the bargaining table, but I doubt Obama has the stones to do the same, and without Assad, who will come to power in Syria, and who will defect to Jabhat al-Nursa with knowledge of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons depots? If Jabhat al-Nursa gets their hands on chemical weapons, they will use them on US, Israel or non-fanatical Muslims in their quest to bring a caliphate to Syria.
Cdev says
Funny you answered the question!!!! I am not saying we should get into nation building and regim change. We screwed this up twice in the last 10 years!!!!! This is why Bush Sr. had it right with Iraq. The objective was push Sadam out of Kuwait.
Tried and Frustrated says
This is about a dictator using chemical weapon on his innocent people.
Mike Welsh says
Kerry testified yesterday that our intelligence indicates Assad has used gas in 19 instances that we know of. The last being the incident that was covered by video which we all see endlessly on TV. This intelligence is so accurate, he tell us, that no one can deny what it reveals. He cannot however, reveal to us (the public) how they get this intelligence.
This military strike is more about politics and elections in 2014 than the dictator Assad. Our President could not afford to again move his “red line”. The President would not have gone to congress and requested their concurrence for this strike had the Brits voted to join us in this action. Obama found himself alone with only France willing to join in the strike. He did not have the UN, the Arab League, nor the Brits. If the strike turned out badly with unintended consequences, he would have no one to share the blame with except his own administration. Not a chance Obama was willing to take.
Obama will probably get his authorization from Congress. If you are wondering why key republicans are coming out so early in support of this strike it is because they have already exacted concessions from Obama in future significant legislation down the road. Think budget, taxes and debt ceiling. For Obama to save face will come with a price. That’s how democracy works. It’s not pretty in the back rooms of the sausage factory.
Fed up says
Mr. Bush had it right about the chemical weapons and a whole lot more in Iraq, but we didn’t have a clue of what happened after our actions. In the current case there isn’t a plan or a clue about what will happen, but none of it is pointing in a positive direction for the U.S. or the region. We should be on the sidelines and working to contain…but that’s already too late considering the state of Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iran. Good thing we did that whole “re-set” with Russia…not that they were ever reliable.
Because says
You are still drinking that Koolaid. History has shown otherwise.
Fed up says
I think you best go back and look at what’s been written about this. There were a few key highways that linked Syria and Iraq – the two countries had a lot in common when it came to their chemical weapons and that border was well used before and during the military actions. Not much was ever said about those weapons, but they also were never accounted for. This despot decided to use a little, or maybe his brother or some other maniac. It’s still a civil war and unnecessary and useless deaths will occur, but they occur in many places. An action in this little slice of heaven will lead to yet another escalation with the US being forced to defend, defend, defend. How about we just take the bench on this one?
Mike Welsh says
A military strike in Syria as envisioned by Obama is a useless no win situation for the US. Leave the Syrians and other Arab countries to sort out their issues in the region. I watched the “Grand Kabuki Theater” show yesterday as Kerry and his two puppets interacted back and forth with the Senate Foreign Relations committee. What a farce. I felt sorry for General Dempsey who appeared very uncomfortable. You could almost feel that he wanted to tell the American public the truth, but he is a military man who has taken an oath to follow the orders of those appointed above him.
Where was the United States when Saddam Hussein was gassing his own people and Iranians by the thousands. Hell, we were supplying him resources and enabling him in his efforts. After all, it was to our advantage that he was killing people in Iran.
Vote no Mr. Harris, but you already know that is my position, as I have sent you several emails expressing my thoughts on this situation.
Because says
We have spent enough money and resources on adventurism and we are still paying those loans down. Time to spend the money on ourselves and stay out of foreign wars as much as possible until we are actively engaged.
Brianc says
I agree.
Mike Welsh says
Good grief, I’m agreeing with Because!
Fed up says
I feel your pain Mike W – this is a first for me as well – or maybe Because finally applied some simple logic and found that it actually works.
Because says
Snide. I reserve the right not to agree with your version of logic when it defies my version of logic. Try not being so arrogant.
Cdev says
How many Americans have to die to make us actively engadged?
Cdev says
I ask because if we let them use Chemical weapons imagine when we sit back and they have a NUke how easy it will be to stop them!
Because says
By engagement, I mean we should never be the ones attacking pre-emptively. That has been demonstrated as a bad idea throughout history and simply makes you the aggressor. I don’t believe we are the world’s police force. Like the comic books teach you, with awesome power comes awesome responsibility, and one of those responsibilities should not be to use it electively just for the rhetoric of “Defending our way of life” when attacking someone else first.
B says
Because is only for cradle to grave care for the people of this country…. Screw everyone else. What was it you said just a couple of days ago about not helping others being selfish and part of our narrow view of the world? Very inconsistent.
Because says
Helping ourselves and each other within our own country and staying out of the affairs of others where we have no business, B. Nice contextual extraction there to satisfy your narrow world view of me and the rest of reality. Go back to your bomb shelter and MREs. Your hate makes you pathetic.
Kharn says
Israel seems to be doing a good job of keeping Syria’s nuclear weapons program in check.
Cdev says
What about Iran and North Korea. Will they believe we are serious? What about average terrorist will they believe we don’t negotiate anymore?
Kharn says
Both the Norks and the Iranians have lost a suspiciously high number of people with known histories of working on their respective projects.
Mike Welsh says
“Israel seems to be doing a good job of keeping Syria’s nuclear weapons program in check.”
What exactly have they done to keep the program in check in Syria?
Israel would do a great job of keeping Iran’s nuclear weapons program in check if the US would let them do it. For Israel to interdict Iran’s efforts requires our help or the help of another NATO country having compatible military systems.
George Willbury says
How many Americans have to die from hunger or hunger-related illnesses before we stop trying to degrade the already anemic food stamp program? How many Americans have to die before we finally get the message and adopt a single-payer universal heath insurance system that has proven time and again to both work well and cost effectively (plus saves lives)? Amazing how we get up and loud about deaths from military action, but we stand by and watch our fellow Americans die in much larger numbers from lack of food and lack of health care without blinking an eye. Oh yeah, and those that fight against the food stamp program and who fight against universal health insurance are supported loudly when they wrap themselves in a flag and claim patriotism as their motive.
Kharn says
How does the saying go? Give a man a fish and he’s fed for a day, teach a man to fish and he’s fed for life? Coddling is not a motivator for someone to improve their place in life.
George Willbury says
True enough. But here in Harford County we even cut the funds that would allow us to teach somebody to fish. Cut school funding. Cut headstart funding. Cut Parks-N-Rec programs or make people pay more for them (which, incidentally, was where I in fact learned to fish).
The truth is that we need to strengthen the social safety net and increase the educational opportunities for the poor and underprivileged among us if we wish to ever break the cycle poverty and crime that seems to inflict half of Harford County. If Congressman Harris spent as much time worrying about doing these good and important things for his constituents as he does trying to pontificate against anything President Obama says, then we would be far better off here in Harford County than we already are…
ALEX R says
Thanks, George, and I agree with most of what you say except nothing for school was cut. It is true that HCPS got less than they asked for but that’s not a ‘cut’. When I was a kid I asked for an increase in my allowance from $3 a week to $5 a week (hey, it was a long time ago) and I only got an increase to $4 but I didn’t go telling everyone that my parents cut my allowance. If I did I would have been lying.
Cdev says
Start teaching than!
Cdev says
Alex when you get the same amount and the cost of doing business goes up you are forced to cut!
ALEX R says
CDev, Then cut the waste. Even Burbey agrees there is waste. Or cut the stuff that is not core education. But stop using it as an excuse to not give teachers a raise. That is so hypocritical it makes me laugh which I can do because I am not a teacher. HCPS is determined to continue to fund ineffective, inefficient activities at ever increasing levels and as a result not enough money for teachers. That’s like having your car detailed but no money for maintenance and fuel.
Hedley Lamarr says
Not doing anything will open the door for Iran to continue their nuclear program and North Korea to continue their antics. These two countries will not have any fear of the US. This is a little more deeper that Syria. God help us if Iran gets their Nukes. North Korea will not hesitate to shell the South if there is No fear of US. Not doing anything is a huge mistake.
Mike Welsh says
I suppose conducting a 10 year war in two countries right in Iran’s back yard is what has caused them to suspend their quest for a nuclear device years ago. If we don’t attack Syria it will be a signal to Iran to restart their nuclear program? If that were the case, better to use all those missiles on Iran! BTW, do you also think that Obama sent Rodman back to N. Korea to tell Kim to stop with the antics already?? Perhaps the administration has briefed Rodman with the real plan and sent him to N. Korea so he can tell Kim not to worry, all is well with Obama and Kim!!
Hedley Lamarr says
Whatever your smoking must be good db, Let’s see what happens Goof.
ALEX R says
Just about everyone agreeing with Rep. Harris. Wow! I never thought I would see the day that Obama could get all of us to agree with each other on something.
Cdev says
We don’t all agree. Although I have said before there is never a time you will not agree with someone!
Cdev says
BTW saying it is Obama is part of the problem here. We need real people to make grown up decisions. I respect the fact that Dr. Harris has left himself with an open mind here. I dislike him for alot of reasons but in this case he is taking the correct approach as opposed to the approach of the; let’s be anti-Obama crowd!
ALEX R says
Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia) has said that she will vote for the measure out of respect for the president. Someone better tell her that she is the “non-voting delegate delegate to the U S House of Representatives”.
Cdev says
She gets to vote on comittees that she is a part of. Additionally she may be confused because in some congresses she gets to vote as of the committee as a whole as long as her vote is not decisive and others she doesn’t. It depends on which party is in the majority!
ALEX R says
Oh, good, she gets to vote but it doesn’t mean anything. Well, based on her stupid comments, I guess I can live with making her feel good as long as it doesn’t really mean anything. Well, her constituents elected her and that is the process we have adopted. Thanks for the clarification but should we really be able to say about her “she may be confused”?
Cdev says
Yes because in 92 ish she could vote until contract with America stripped it then in 06 she got to vote until 10
Liberty Lover says
I don’t care how much John Boehner twists your arm on this one, Dr. Harris – you vote no, or go find another occupation.
hypocrites says
To all of you Bush-lied-people-died-protest-the-wars and all things conservative. WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU? If Bush was suggesting 1/10 of this kind of shit you would be marching on the white house. You people really, truly are a bunch of hypocrites. You are staying silent as your messiah is looking for support to bomb another country.
Hedley Lamarr says
Bomb the fuck out of them, nuke those assholes.
Because says
Not many people opposed Bush because we were routinely treated to the Terror Color Code on a daily basis keeping our panties in a collective timidly fearful bunch and Big Daddy Bush was going to make a B-2 bomb a bunch of guys in caves using cellphones to run a worldwide terror network. It was a stupid idea then, and it got stupider when he decided on an elective war against a country that didn’t attack us and kept the cost of budget and suggested they would greet us with flowers as we invaded. The notion of going into Syria while still trying to get out of our last two fiascoes in nation building is simply stupid and at least this time there is debate about going in – which I don’t think he really wants to do because otherwise he would have scared the crap out of us like his predecessor and ram-rodded it through a compliant congress because all of us were afraid of Anthrax coming through the mail from a guy working at an Army base in Maryland.
pizzle says
The reason Barry hasn’t gone in with guns blazin’ for crossing his “red line” is because he knows most of the citizens are against it, and because he wants to have someone else to point a finger to when the shit goes south…..but nice try on making him out to be some sort of great thinker on this one. He’s already backed off the red-line comment by saying that HE didn’t create the red line…..the international community created it. He’s the friggin Teflon Don.
Hedley Lamarr says
Let’s complete the job, nuke the middle east, put all them assholes out of their misery, move Israel to texas and call it a day.
Mike Welsh says
CNN’s Anderson Cooper is reporting tonight that the pentagon plans for a Syria strike have expanded to include use of B-2 and B-52 long range bombers. The strike is no longer a “limited and narrow” strike designed to send Assad a message and degrade his chemical weapons capability. This is exactly the kind of thing that many opponents of the administration feared. We will now have our military personnel involved in the theater of operations. Apparently this new plan is not limited to launching unmanned weapons from outside the capability of Assad’s defenses.
CNN also reported today, that a military planning document, prepared approximately one year ago, stated that approximately 75,000 personnel would be required to be on the ground in Syria to adequately ensure all of the chemical weapons were rounded up and secured. This was needed to prevent those weapons falling into the wrong hands if the Assad regime falls.
NBC is reporting that their polling indicates 79% of Americans are opposed to any strike in Syria.
When an NBC reporter asked California Senator Feinstein if she supported the Presidents request, she answered yes. When asked if she knew how her constituents felt, she replied that they did not support a strike, but that her constituents did not know what she knew! Apparently she has no intention of telling them what she knows that they don’t. Guess its none of their business. The Senator went further to state that it really made no difference how she personally felt about a strike in Syria, the President has gone on record establishing a “red line,” and since that line has been crossed, we must back up our President.
And so it begins.
Cdev says
Perhaps she wont tell them because it is classified!!!!!
Mike Welsh says
Cdev,
Yes indeed. The classified excuse. You know, just believe me.
If you really want my support for something that I am opposing, you need share with me something more than, I can’t tell you because you don’t have a need to know. You don’t necessary have to tell me how the information was obtained, but if you want support you need something better than just “trust me”. Especially if you are from the Government!!!!
Cdev says
It is not an excuse. Would you want members of congress sharing classified information publicly?
Mike Welsh says
They do it all the time, especially when it suits their purpose. The biggest leak in government is the White House staff…. you know, that “unnamed” source. It is not only this administration, but previous administrations, although this one seems to do it more than any other.
One of the biggest/best tools in government for maintaining power is the control of information. They have it, you don’t. If they want to keep information from you they classify it. I will agree that there are instances information needs to be classified. The most obvious is advantage over an adversary. Doesn’t necessarily have to be an enemy. But the American people are not adversary’s of our own government. When government has been exposed as having lied to the public, support and trust of government wanes. When you are trying to regain support of the public you have to be forthcoming. You don’t necessarily have to reveal the means used to obtain the information, but you need to reveal enough to gain support. Especially after it has been revealed that you have been spying on all of them!!
Cdev says
The White House is the head classifying agent
Because says
Not true. While the White House is at the top of the Executive Branch, the agencies beneath it have the discretion to identify classified materials without White House oversight.
Cdev says
The White House can declassify it!
ALEX R says
It is true that the White House can declassify any classified material at their sole discretion. When might we expect them to do that?
Because says
Mike does have a point. Information is packaged and sometimes withdrawn to support the particular interest of the person making the presentation. You know in all our lives if you simply take things out of context or fail to provide all the information (A Half Truth) and you can make the case for almost anything. It’s not just the government, it’s humans in general. Credibility is earned and not bestowed by position. There is an expression “Statistics don’t lie, statisticians do”
ALEX R says
Mike, 70% of Americans were opposed to Obamacare and there was nothing classified about it but Feinstein and others voted in favor of it but for a different reason – because they knew what was best for us. Nothing new here. Her constituency must decide whether they want her to continue voting against their best judgment or elect someone else.
Mike Welsh says
Senator Feinstein’s constituents were in favor of obamacare and time will tell if obamacare is in fact best for us. I might add that the good Senator has also been able to obtain several waivers for employees (constituents) in her state that keeps them from having to pay the Cadillac Tax on premium health plans negotiated by their unions. Seems that the good people of California only believe in obamacare when it doesn’t affect them in a negative manner.
You are correct regarding her constituency deciding whether they want her to continue. Lets see how they react if she actually votes yes on the resolution in the full Senate, and if Obama is given the authority to strike that he actually carries it out. McCain certainly got an earful from his constituents in Arizona! They didn’t take very well to him telling them that he knew what was best.
ALEX R says
Rep. Pelosi represents some of the same people that Sen Feinstein represents and as we all know Rep. Pelosi holds the record for getting waivers. Good enough for us poor peons, but Pelosi and Feinstein have voted themselves and exemption and many of their constituents as well. Pelosi is in hiding and will not take any questions regarding Obamacare from anyone.
Cdev says
What poll showed 70% against the ACA?