Rep. Tim Walz

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, who represents much of southern Minnesota, said Monday that he won’t support President Obama’s plan for limited intervention in Syria over the use of chemical weapons.

The president has asked Congress to green-light a military strike, but Walz said he heard clearly from constituents that they oppose the plan.

In a statement, Walz said:

“While I believe the use of chemical weapons is despicable and the world must take action to ensure that cruel dictators are not allowed to use such weapons without repercussions, at this time I cannot in good conscience support current proposals to take unilateral, military action.”

The statement from his office said Walz is skeptical that “even limited military action would stay limited due to unforeseen consequences and his concern that it could result in American boots on the ground with no defined strategy to bring them home.”

But Walz commended the president for seeking congressional approval rather than acting alone, saying:

“After 12 years of war, the American public has every right to weigh in and expect that their views be represented in Congress.”

Join the Conversation

7 Comments

  1. Thank you, US. Rep. Walz

    Good for the congressman, Bachmann and the senators and other representatives who intend to vote against this bad idea.

  2. At least one

    Here is at least one Congressman with enough sense to oppose Obama’s madness on Syria. Altho
    Rick Nolan is also displaying similar good judgement.

  4. I’d be happier

    if this were based on his own convictions and knowledge rather than which of constituents yelled the loudest.

  5. Syria vote

    Whether he does it for right reasons or not, I hope my representative, Eric Paulsen, summons the intestinal fortitude to vote NO as his constituents want rather than as his party tells him to. It will be an uncomfortable first for him. Time for some Minnesota common sense to prevail.

    1. “his party tells him to?”

      His party is opposed to it. As usual, the congressional leaders who support Obama do not represent the views of their party. On either side of the isle.

Leave a comment