All four members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation say President Donald Trump’s air strikes against Syria were a proportional response to a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians. But they say before Trump takes any further action, he must consult with Congress.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District says technically, President Trump should have asked Congress for authorization to carry out Thursday’s air strikes.
“Whether the president took the right approach or not, I’m not a military expert. But I do know that this is the kind of situation where the president needs to have an authorization of Congress. That’s his constitutional obligation and we should be in the dialogue and conversation,” she says.
All four members say Trump should consult Congress before taking any further action. In written statements, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King and Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin of Maine’s 2nd District each say a comprehensive strategy is needed to address the larger, ongoing problems in Syria and the surrounding region.
Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins also released a written statement saying the air strikes delivered an important message to both Syria and Russia. Russia brokered a diplomatic agreement in 2013 that required the destruction of all of Syria’s chemical weapons, and Collins says that agreement must still be adhered to.
But Pingree says the U.S. needs to proceed carefully.
“I just don’t want us to get back into the situation that we were in with Iraq and Afghanistan, which really turned our nation against that kind of conflict, spent trillions of dollars and many people believed didn’t make the situation better,” she says.
Pingree is also concerned about the president’s efforts to block Syrian refugees into the country.
“I just think it’s horrific to have compassion on the one hand seeing these babies die, but then being unwilling to let their families into our country when we could be very helpful at this moment in time,” she says.
According to Pingree, the U.S. can’t resolve the crisis in Syria with force alone.
