How Should Meng, Israel Vote on Syria Attack?

This article was written by Henry Powderly and Nathan Duke.

President Barack Obama this weekend said he would let the U.S. Congress decide on whether to attack Syria following an alleged chemical weapons attack by President Bashar Assad that killed hundreds of children and violated international rules of war.

Obama noted in his public address Saturday that Americans are “weary of war” and argued that putting the decision in the hands of the people’s representatives was more in line with the nation’s democratic ideals.

“I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course and our actions will be even more effective,” he said.

For northeast Queens residents, U.S. Reps. Grace Meng and Steve Israel will be responsible for representing their voices in the debate.

“I believe it is entirely appropriate for the president to seek an affirmative decision of Congress prior to engaging military in Syria,” Meng said in a statement. “With any question of war, particularly absent an apparent imminent national security threat to the United States, it is important for the president to pay close attention to the views of the members of Congress, the elected representatives of the American people.”

And Israel, who posted a statement to his Facebook page this past weekend, seemed to back launching an attack, but with allies.

“I am concerned that, unless the international community responds in a unified manner, the Assad regime will be emboldened to widen its use of chemical warfare and further destabilize the region and threaten us,” he wrote. “That’s why I believe that, together with our international partners and Syria’s neighbors, a surgical and targeted air strike is needed as long as it is limited to degrading Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities and does not involve U.S. ground forces.”

Patch wants to know how you think Meng and Israel should vote. Do you believe they should support an attack on Syria? Post your comments in the section provided below.