{"id":100387,"date":"2018-04-14T21:31:23","date_gmt":"2018-04-15T03:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-delegation-responds-to-airstrikes-in-syria\/"},"modified":"2018-04-14T21:31:23","modified_gmt":"2018-04-15T03:31:23","slug":"colorado-delegation-responds-to-airstrikes-in-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/colorado-delegation-responds-to-airstrikes-in-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado delegation responds to airstrikes in Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Marine
Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., Joint Chiefs of Staff director, shows photographs from before and after the U.S.-led airstrikes against Syria during a news conference at the Pentagon on Saturday in Washington.<\/span>Alex Brandon\/Associated Press<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

WASHINGTON \u2013 Southwest Colorado\u2019s congressional delegation had a mixed response to President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to strike Syrian military targets late Friday, expressing mostly support for the attacks but voicing concern about congressional authorization and a lack of a broader strategy.<\/p>\n

\"Tipton\"
Tipton<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cWhile the recent action by the United States and our allies was necessary, I do believe that any expanded action by the United States military in Syria must be considered by Congress first,\u201d Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, said in a statement Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

The missile strikes come in response to a chemical weapons attack in Western Syria a week ago. The decision to launch missiles into Syria comes after a week of threats from the president to take action.<\/p>\n

\"Gardner\"
Gardner<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., said in a statement earlier in the week that the administration needed to make a \u201ccoordinated and proportional response.\u201d After Trump\u2019s address Friday, Gardner released a statement of support for the strikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe United States and its allies cannot sit back and allow it to continue,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cThe precision targeting of military targets are needed in the fight of good versus evil, a fight of the United States versus the dark edge of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bennet\"
Bennet<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet did not explicitly endorse the strikes, although he acknowledged in a statement Saturday morning that \u201cdeterrence has not worked.\u201d He urged caution as the president took military action in a destabilized Middle East without the authorization of Congress, a similar concern as Tipton.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving failed to articulate a strategy for the crisis in Syria, President Trump risks pulling the United States into a broader conflict with this military action,\u201d Bennet said. \u201cThe decision to use military force against the Syrian government must be made in pursuit of a comprehensive objective and with authorization from Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment on Gardner\u2019s concerns about military action without congressional approval.<\/p>\n

Both Gardner\u2019s and Bennet\u2019s statements call for a \u201ccomprehensive\u201d objective.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese latest actions need to be part of a comprehensive strategy that secure lasting peace in Syria,\u201d Gardner said Friday night.<\/p>\n

The U.S. launched strikes against Syrian installations \u201cassociated with the use of chemical weapons,\u201d Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said at a news conference Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

Gen. James Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced Friday night that the United States launched missiles at three targets: a research facility in Damascus that the U.S. alleges is connected with Syrian chemical weapons and two chemical weapons storage facilities in Western Syria.<\/p>\n

The Pentagon said the targets were successfully hit and took out the \u201cheart\u201d of the Syrian chemical weapons program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to set the Syrian chemical weapons program back for years,\u201d Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, staff director for the joint chiefs, said Saturday.<\/p>\n

The United States carried out the operation with France and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

The Pentagon said that the strikes did not represent a change in strategy toward Syria and that further action by the U.S. would be based off the future actions of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.<\/p>\n

Andrew Eversden is an intern for The Durango Herald and a student at American University in Washington, D.C.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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