Lankford Tells Constituents He Does Not Support US Intervention in Syria

Statement

Representative James Lankford (R-OK) was grateful to engage with central Oklahomans last night during his Tuesday Talk community forum in Bethany, OK. While constituents raised a number of important questions, the majority focused on next week's vote in the House to authorize U.S. military involvement in Syria, per President Obama's request.

"I remain opposed to U.S. military intervention in Syria's civil war," said Lankford.

After hearing from constituents through community forums, emails, phone calls and social media, the response from Oklahomans in the Fifth District has been overwhelmingly against U.S. action in Syria.

"It is my belief that U.S. military involvement in Syria's civil war is not in our national interest," continued Lankford. "I will review the classified materials in Washington, DC, but from what I have heard to date, the proposal on the table does not achieve our larger goal in the Middle East of stability or a reduction of chemical weapon threats. A limited missile strike will only weaken our hand in the Middle East when Assad claims a year from now that he beat the rebels and the Americans. We must continue to engage diplomatically and with our allies to ensure our strategic goals in the region remain achievable.

"I grieve for the thousands of Syrian victims--especially the children and their devastated parents--murdered in the Syrian civil war. I look forward to the congressional debate on the issue of how to best respond. I appreciate my friends and neighbors in central Oklahoma who continue to make their concerns known to me," concluded Lankford.

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