WASHINGTON (AP) — Suggesting an uphill fight for President Barack Obama, House members staking out positions are either opposed to or leaning against his plan for a U.S. military strike against Syria by more than a 6-1 margin, a survey by The Associated Press shows. The Senate is more evenly divided ahead of its vote […]
syria
Posted inOp-Eds
Austin Bay: Many options available for Syrian situation
Expanded intervention in Syria’s civil war? The promised “red line” punitive strike? An equivocal pause for congressional rumination? Ambiguous postponement? Or … a “Saturday Night Live” Emily Litella “never mind” skit on the world stage — farcical incompetence an obscene response to obscene tragedy? The five preceding sentence fragments framed as questions sketch five potential […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Angus King, other Maine delegates, still weighing options on strike against Syria
PORTLAND — U.S. Sen. Angus King on Wednesday said he has not yet made a decision on whether to support military intervention in Syria. “I can tell you that in my years of public service, I think this is just about the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to deal with,” King said during a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Senate panel votes to authorize force in Syria
WASHINGTON — A Senate panel has voted to give President Barack Obama the authority to use military force against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack. The vote Wednesday was 10-7, with one senator voting present. The full Senate is expected to vote on the measure next week. The resolution would permit Obama […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Collins criticizes how Obama is handling Syrian crisis
WATERVILLE — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, says President Barack Obama has put the country into a “no-win situation” by issuing an ultimatum to Syrian President Bashar Assad without fully considering the consequences. The Maine Republican said at an appearance in Waterville on Tuesday that she is pleased that Obama has sought congressional approval for […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
King plans to attend classified briefings on Syria
U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, was returning to Washington on Tuesday to attend a pair of classified briefings on the situation in Syria and the potential of a U.S. military strike against there. King was expected to attend a joint House-Senate classified briefing on Syria and a closed-door meeting of the Senate Intelligence Committee on […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Assad warns of a risk of regional war if West strikes Syria
PARIS (AP) — France released an intelligence report on Monday alleging chemical weapons use by Syria’s regime that dovetailed with similar U.S. claims, as President Bashar Assad warned that any military strike against his country would spark an uncontrollable regional war and spread “chaos and extremism.” The verbal crossfire, including a rejection of the Western […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. builds case for strike on Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A top Syrian government official on Sunday dismissed the Obama administration as confused and hesitant, even as Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington has evidence of sarin gas use by Syria and that the case for a military attack is getting “stronger and stronger.” At the Vatican, Pope Francis condemned […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Cal Thomas: Once more into the snake pit
“Oh, when will they ever learn? Oh, when will they ever learn?” — Peter, Paul and Mary By the time you read this, U.S. missiles and bombs may be falling on Syria. Why? Syria hasn’t attacked us. It does not pose a security threat to the United States. These were arguments made against the Bush […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
King, Pingree applaud Obama’s decision to ask Congress
Two Mainers in Congress applauded President Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional approval before moving forward with military action against Syria. However, they are not sure how they’ll vote. “I will review the evidence and arguments with great care before deciding how I will vote on this difficult and important issue,” Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, […]