Sen. Paul Issues Dear Colleague Opposing Syrian Intervention
September 9, 2013 in Politics & Elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Sen. Rand Paul issued a Dear Colleague letter urging his colleagues in both chambers to vote against U.S. intervention in the Syrian civil war. Below is text of that letter.
TEXT OF LETTER:
September 9, 2013
Dear Colleague,
There is no greater question that is ever brought before Congress than the issue of whether to go to war.
The question before us presently is whether the United States should initiate war with Syria. In 1995, Colin Powell wrote, ‘War should be the politics of last resort. And when we go to war, we should have a purpose our people understand and support.’
I do not believe Syria passes that test.
I treat the question of war as if it would determine the fate of my son or daughter. War is not some geopolitical chess game. It is, at best, a necessary evil. It should never be the first option. It should occur only when America is attacked or threatened, or when American interests are attacked or threatened. And only when all other options have been played out.
Too often, the debate begins and ends with an assertion that our national interest is at stake, but no evidence is ever presented to convince us of that assertion. The assertion itself is thought to be sufficient. I disagree. The burden of proof lies with those who wish to engage in war.
The resolution to authorize force in Syria goes too far, and also not far enough. It does too much, but also too little.
This resolution does too much by involving us in a civil war in which there is no clearly defined American national security interest. Even the State Department argues that there is no military solution here that is good for the Syrian people, and the best path forward is a political solution. I will not vote to send my son, your son, or anyone’s daughter to fight for stalemate. The President must make the case for war. Thus far, he and his Administration have tried to make the case for ‘skirmish.’ They make the case for aseptic, surgical, see-no-blood, strikes that are pre-announced to not mean victory. The military strikes are pre-announced to be so limited as to provide no solution to the Syrian civil war.
The resolution does too little by narrowly circumscribing the President’s power to execute war. I disagree strongly with unlimited …read more
Source: RAND PAUL
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