John Bolton On Syria: "I Would Vote No"
"I would not have referred the matter to Congress, and I think if I were a member of Congress, I would vote against an authorization to use force here," former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said on FOX News. "I don’t think it’s in America’s interest. I don’t think we should, in effect, take sides in the Syrian conflict. There’s very little to recommend either side to me, and I think the notion that a limited strike, which is what the president seems to be pursuing, will not create a deterrent effect with respect either to Syria’s use of chemical weapons or, more seriously, Iran’s nuclear weapons program. So, all in all, since I don’t see any utility to the use of military force in Syria in this context, I would vote no.
"Now the argument that the administration makes is, the president's committed us here, it’ll cause a huge blow to America’s credibility if Congress doesn't approve the use of force. And I'd say, a huge blow to America’s credibility compared to what? Compared to the mess the president’s already made of it? I just don’t think there’s a convincing argument here, and frankly it doesn’t matter what the intelligence shows. I don’t think there’s any doubt that Assad’s regime used chemical weapons. I don’t think that’s going to change anybody’s mind."
Email
Share