Congressman Israel: No Boots or No Attack on Syria

After U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, dedicated a new monument at Northport Harbor to veterans who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars on Sunday, the congressman spoke with Patch about the looming skirmish in Syria, and said he'd only support a scaled-back attack.

Israel, who said he supports a “no boots-on-the-ground,” approach to intervention in Syria, is tasked with persuading members of Congress to pursue a modified version of American involvement in the war-torn country – “one that is short in scope, as well as focused only on degrading the chemical weapons capabilities of the regime,” he said.

It is estimated that President Bashar al-Assad's army has killed more than 100,000 people over the two-year civil war period, and more recently, 1,000 civilians potentially through use of chemical weapons. 

Israel said that the use of poisonous gas is the main reason he is in favor of intervening in Syria. 

“I don’t think the response should be to a nation that uses chemical weapons, ‘no worries.’ It is a worry,” he said. However, he does not want to see American troops on the ground. 

In a Patch poll, 75 percent of respondents said that they want Israel to vote against military action.

“I don’t want to commit U.S. Forces into picking sides in a civil war. I do believe the regime that uses chemical weapons to murder over 400 children and 1,000 adults needs to be held accountable,” he added. 

Israel also said if Syria’s use of chemical weapons goes unchecked, it could open the door for other countries to follow suit.

“I further believe chemical weapons capabilities in Syria could fall into the hands of terrorist organizations, threaten Americans and finally Iran, North Korea and other regimes will be empowered to use chemical weapons if we acquiesce to their use. It’s sets a very dangerous precedent,” he said.

As far as Israel’s ability to persuade other members of Congress to commit to a modified version of intervention, the answer is not clear.

“It’s impossible to say. There are still way too many undecided in this Congress,” he said. 

Congress will receive another classified briefing on the Syria situation Monday night before President Barack Obama makes his speech to the nation on Tuesday. Israel said he believes more members will crystalize their position after that.