In an interview aired on Mobile CBS affiliate WKRG on Thursday, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, said he has heard from his constituents strong opposition to a U.S. military strike in Syria.
“My phones are ringing off the hook,” Sessions said. “People do not want us involved in another deep commitment in the Middle East in a civil war we’ve got no business being in.”
Sessions pointed to shortcomings in Obama’s foreign policy with regard to Syria that have led to the situation the United States is facing now.
“I think if the president had been more forceful and had sent stronger messages earlier, we wouldn’t have seen such a large use of this poison gas and we may not be facing the trouble we’re facing today,” he said. “Obviously somewhere along the line they concluded there would be no consequences or minimal consequences.”
“So if action is undertaken, how does it fit into our overall strategy?” Sessions continued. “Indeed, do we even have a strategy in the Middle East? I am utterly opposed to involving ourselves in a Syrian civil war. We cannot do that.”
Sessions also expressed skepticism about the viability of the Obama administration deploying military trainers to the region to aid the Syrian rebels.
“People may have ideas that somehow we can intervene, create peace and all, but the situation is not ripe for that,” he added.
Sessions, though, remains uncommitted on whether or not he’ll vote for a resolution authorizing military action against Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime.
Follow Jeff on Twitter @Jeff_Poor
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