Sen. Markey: Trump Must Seek Congressional Approval Before Syria Escalation
BOSTON (CBS) -- In an address to reporters Saturday morning, Sen. Edward Markey said President Donald Trump needs to come to Congress to tell lawmakers what his plan is in regard to Syria, and to ask for permission before any further military action is taken.
Sen. Markey called the missile strike on a Syrian military airfield a "swift strike," but said it was clear the president didn't have a plan on what to do next.
.@SenMarkey says @POTUS must lay out a plan to #congress, come to #congress before further action is taken against #assad.
— KarynRegal (@Karynregal) April 8, 2017
"It is clear that Donald Trump does not have a clear or comprehensive strategy to hold Assad and his enablers in Russia accountable," he said. "The Trump administration must develop that comprehensive strategy."
At a Town Hall event in Lynn, Rep. Seth Moulton said the initial air strike was a necessary move because "we cannot stand idly by."
"It seems that this initial strike, according what the president has said, was just in response to the chemical weapons attack," said Moulton. "If he intends to put any troops on the ground, if he intends to have a larger air campaign or anything like that in Syria, that clearly is a conversation that needs to happen with Congress."
It seems that this initial strike, according what the president has said, was just in response to the chemical weapons attack. If he intends to put any troops on the ground, if he intends to have a larger air campaign or anything like that in Syria, that clearly is a conversation that needs to happen with Congress.
The missile attack was in response to a chemical attack on the city of Idlib that killed several people, including children and babies, last week.
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Markey, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the 180-degree turn the administration took from an "America First" policy to foreign intervention.
"In less than a week, President Trump and his administration have suffered from political whiplash," Markey said.
#wbz asked @SenMarkey what Dem colleagues on Sen Foreign Relations Com will do. Says they will demand #Syria debate on #senate floor.
— KarynRegal (@Karynregal) April 8, 2017
He said "crippling sanctions" should be imposed on any companies or countries that deal with the Assad regime.
Markey also said the door should remain open to refugees.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports