EmailHouse Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said this morning on “This Week” that “some action needs to be taken” against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons, saying that the red line “can’t be a dotted line.”
The U.S. announced this week that an initial evidence assessment showed that Syria, which is engulfed in a bloody civil war that has left tens of thousands dead, had used a small amount of chemical weapons in the war. Rogers said Sunday that classified information only strengthened the case.
“There is also classified information that we have, that I think strengthens the case that in fact some small amount of chemical weapons have been used over the course of the last two years,” Rogers said on “This Week.” “And – and the problem is, you know the president has laid down the line. He – and it can’t be a dotted line. It can’t be anything other than a red line.”
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“I think the options aren’t huge, but some action needs to be taken,” Rogers added. “And if you think about the destabilizing impact. Right now, the chemical weapons have been small in use. If you have a larger use, the refugee and humanitarian crisis that comes from that is huge.”
Intelligence Committee member Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., who also joined the “This Week” roundtable Sunday, said the investigation into the use of chemical weapons should be finished and called the implication that the U.S. isn’t doing enough a “mistake.”
“Well the president, and I appreciate his deliberative approach to – to this, you know we’ve had a little problem with going to the U.N. with the idea of weapons of mass destruction before so we certainly want to finish the investigation,” Schakowsky said. “But he said, it’s not an on and off switch, but it is – it has changed his calculation. And of course, he’s looking into all of the options. But, you know to – to imply that maybe we’re not doing enough, or we’re not doing anything, I think is also a mistake.”
Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., added that locating any possible chemical weapons was imperative for the United States, especially given the recent U.S. involvement in Libya.
“Well, we hope he goes a lot faster than he is now. A lot of people are surprised he’s lasted this long,” Ruppersberger said of Syria’s president Bashar Assad. “I agree with Mike on the issue of the chemical weapons. That is severe. We have to know where they are, and we’re very much concerned, when Assad eventually falls, where these chemical weapons are going to go. Just like in Libya. We had a lot of weapons that went to some bad guys. And it’s the same situation here.”
“But you talk about a no-fly zone,” Ruppersberger added about one potential military action. “It’s easy to say it, but Syria is very sophisticated. Libya was not sophisticated. So, we have a lot of issues on the table, and we’ve got to get it right. But, I believe very strongly, we have to do it as a – as a team.”
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Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich says he have to do something, but gives not a hint as to what he suggests we do. Reminds me of a hysterical person standing at the scene of an accident screaming “do something! do something!”. Thanks for the help Mike.
Posted by: Dave | April 28, 2013, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
Then let the Arab states do it.
The U.S. has played “world policeman” long enough………in fact, far TOO long!
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | April 28, 2013, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
I’m sure Hussein will send Hanoi John over there where Johnny Kerry will negotiate our surrender to Syria and Hussein will go bow down before Assad and apologize before turning our nation over to him.
Posted by: TexBork_2013 | April 28, 2013, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
Posted by: TexBork_2013 | April 28, 2013, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
I agree with Rick McDaniel on this one. We need to be smart on this one, not stupid.
Posted by: Ben | April 28, 2013, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
Viet Nam Vet:
Posted by: Bob | April 28, 2013, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
So we enter another country’s civil war, bleed out coffers, injure our young men and women, and enrich the war machine AGAIN!!!! I am beginning to believe that America is ALL about spreading war around the world. And by the way, before anybody gets sent off to fight this new battle,,,,,, let the good saber-rattling American Senators send in their children and grand children to the front lines to show how courageous and justified another war is and act as leaders rather than orchestrating death for somebody else.
Posted by: mixie | April 28, 2013, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Mr. Rogers…viet nam vet here. Would be happy to follow YOU into firefight. Just let me know when you volunteer for combat duty, and I’ll be right behind you.
Posted by: Bob | April 28, 2013, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
We have no business doing anything, and Obama should have never drawn the line. Syria is protected by Russia and China.. just like NK is protected by China…
Posted by: dbase1986 | April 28, 2013, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Obama should have never drawn the line. Syria is protected by Russia and China.
Posted by: dbase1986 | April 28, 2013, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
He’s not the only one drawing lines. It’s an international situation.
“In a statement that reflected a degree of irritation with Assad, the Russian Foreign Ministry reminded Syria that it had ratified a global convention banning the use of chemical weapons. It added that Russia expects Syria to “unfailingly honor its international obligations.”
The situation is that proof must be confirmed by unbiased international inspectors.
Posted by: Gary | April 28, 2013, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
Why is it republicans prefer to spend money we don’t have in other countries while ours crumbles?
Posted by: Fizz | April 28, 2013, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
Let the Syrians and the rest of the world fix their own damned problems and let us stay out of their business. We have enough issues here on the home front. We do not need to fix everyone else’s problems. Charity begins at home.
Posted by: Erik J. Schott | April 28, 2013, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
No ‘red line’ was crossed here…and Mike Rogers knows it. Or there would have been MANY,MANY more deaths. How did the this ‘neo-con leftover’ get in this position anyway? We must NOT get unilaterally involved in this country. and until the ‘rebel group definition’ gets better defined as to what it would mean for that country’s future, we should not arm them either. A great example of why we do not want another GOP President/administration .
Posted by: CND FOX | April 28, 2013, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
To Rogers and the other GOP politicians……If our involvement in Syria leads to military action will you advocate a new war tax? Would you push for a new draft? If not, please stay out of the matter.
Posted by: Bob Ramos | April 28, 2013, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
Obama is making certain that his “red line” was not crossed. Is there anyone in his/her right mind that wishes that Bush had not done the same?
Posted by: Bob Ramos | April 28, 2013, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
yes the action should be leave Assad alone, he knows best how to handel his country and people.
Posted by: ableme11110 | April 28, 2013, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
What…….exactly……compels us to act regarding Syria?????? What?
It is time we learned we are NOT the world’s policeman.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | April 28, 2013, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
See.. here is the problem… Obama drew a line… Now.. what is he going to do “IF” it was crossed?
That is why he should of never drew the line… Same crap with bin Laden?? We huffed and puffed, threatened, and gave the Taliban a choice. What happened bin Laden went into hiding, and we got into a over 10 year battle in Afghanistan and took over 10 years to get bin Laden. YOU DO NOT THREATEN or PROMISE people. You act like it don’t bother you and “IF” you going to do something, you wait until they have their guard down and you strike. Now.. we have run our mouth, and if Assad has crossed that line, we have to do something.
Posted by: dbase1986 | April 28, 2013, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
get your boots on Senator. We the citizens agree and have decided to send YOU into Syria since you seem to know what needs to be done.
Good luck and godspeed to you sir.
Posted by: mke65 | April 28, 2013, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
No,no,no,no,no,no! No,no,no,no,no,no! No,no,no,no,no,no! No,no,no,no,no,no!
Posted by: Banshee | April 28, 2013, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
Why don’t we send a few thousand US boys over there to die. Mike Rogers should be first.
Posted by: Jim Loeffler | April 28, 2013, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Mike Rodgers is a political hack. He does everything he can to politicize every situation.
We need to stay out of Syria until Syria’s Arab neighbors and NATO are willing to get involved.
Then if we have to put troops on the ground, their needs to be a declaration of war and every eligible male or female in the United States should be required to register for the draft. This includes the children and grandchildren of these Congressmen and women. No college deferments.
Posted by: tmferretti | April 29, 2013, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
Dave | April 28, 2013, 1:12 pm —- Almost as stupid as calling chemical weapons a “Game Changer”. Like it’s some kind of game right? What game are we changing Mr. Obama?
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | April 29, 2013, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
CND FOX | April 28, 2013, 3:29 pm —- So 5000 deaths were enough in Libya to attack for “humanitarian” reasons, but 60000 is not enough in Syria? Having an inconsistent freign policy is the worst thing Obama can do. He is now feeling the affects of it. The inexperienced one stepped in it with his own “game changer” words…again.
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | April 29, 2013, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm