Wilson Opposed to Military Strike Against Syria

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, issued the following statement after questioning Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey at the House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on a potential military strike against Syria.

Congressman Wilson stated, "Today's hearing confirms my belief that the United States must not engage in military action against Syria. The President's failed foreign policy over the last four and a half years has allowed Syrian Dictator Bashar al-Assad to engage in horrific acts of violence against his own people. The White House identified on April 25th that Syria had used chemical weapons, crossing the President's "red line." This debate should have occurred upon immediate detection, as opposed to now when intervention could potentially create greater consequences. Secretary Kerry, Secretary Hagel, and General Dempsey's inability to provide specific answers to direct questions conveys that authorizing a military strike will place American families at greater risk and increase instability which threatens our allies of Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq."