[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 11, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         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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