Michele Bachmann: Syria Strike Would Be 'A Very Bad Call'
The Huffington Post | By Chris Gentilviso
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) speaks at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference, June 14, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Faith and Freedom Coalition is a group created by former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, designed to strengthen the evangelical influence in national politics. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has long been against Syria intervention, and recent developments have not changed her stance.
In a Thursday interview with MinnPost, Bachmann stressed how U.S. involvement with Syria "would only make the situation worse." She called America "war weary," adding that a decision to act by President Barack Obama's administration would be "a very bad call."
“From a United States perspective, the very first question that has to be answered is, number one: What is the identifiable, vital American national security interest?” Bachmann said. “Well, there isn't one. You can't find one. Number two: We have to ask, what is our plan for victory? And in the case of defeat, what's our plan for exit? None of that has been addressed.”
Back in June, Bachmann was critical of Obama's decision to authorize sending weapons to the Syrian rebels for the first time. In an interview with conservative radio show host Laura Ingraham, Bachmann called it "insanity" to arm individuals who "will essentially be Al-Qaeda."
"It's very interesting that the Obama Doctrine tends to be listing up the Islamic jihadist-based Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda elements in the Middle East, and that is what the Obama administration sees will be stabilization," Bachmann said.
As of Friday afternoon at 1:07 p.m. EDT, the latest vote tracker on Congressional approval for a Syria strike found 40 yes/lean yes votes, compared to 223 no/lean no votes. In total, 217 votes are needed for passage.
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