Toomey, Casey address possible military action in Syria

(York) — The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voted to authorize limited military force against Syria, and the full Senate could vote as early as next week.

Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey says the US must do what’s in its best national security interest, but he doesn’t think diplomacy will reach Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Toomey, who made several midstate stops Wednesday, says doing nothing could be dangerous.

“I do think there’s a danger in allowing a very rare thing — which is this appalling use of a very dangerous weapon of mass destruction — that Assad has done,” Toomey says. “The danger of having no response to that, I think, encourages the proliferation of these weapons and that would be a danger to America security.”

That said, before he votes in favor of any resolution, Toomey says he has questions that need answers.

Democrat Bob Casey of Pennsylvania says he plans to vote in favor of a focused strike. He adds he believes a majority of Congress will ultimately do the same.

“These strikes are going to be limited, it’s not going to go on for a very long period of time,” Casey stressed on today’s Radio Smart Talk program.

President Obama is calling for military action against the Assad regime in the wake of last month’s chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of Syrians.