Wisconsin’s senators both agree that diplomacy is better than military action in Syria.
Republican Senator Ron Johnson says the United States should pressure Syria to turn over its chemical weapons and make sure they don’t end up in the hands of al-Qaeda. He says if the United States were to use military force, it would be ineffective, and that the ultimate goal is to keep Syria from becoming a “failed state.”
“Obviously remove as much of the Assad regime as necessary, but a failed state for Syria would be a disaster for Syria, the region, and America’s national security,” says Johnson.
Johnson says the president should have the authority to strike in Syria without Congressional approval.
Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin says global atrocities, like the use of chemical weapons, deserve an international response. But she says she’s glad there’s a possibility of resolving the matter without military action. “That is a message of hope to the world – that if we ever were to face a challenge like this again with a weapon of mass destruction held by any country, that we have alternatives when the global community acts in concert.”
Baldwin says she thinks countries that have chemical weapons, like North Korea, are taking notice.
