Politics & Government

Ayotte: Military Action Needed in Syria

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte said President Obama should work with other countries and make a case to the American people before taking action.

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, argued Wednesday that the United States and its allies should take military action in Syria after reports that the ruling regime attacked rebels with chemical weapons.

"Those actions are absolutely deplorable," Ayotte said.


She said President Obama should work with a coalition of international partners and get the support of the American people before taking action.

She said the use of chemical weapons "crosses a red line."

"We do need to take military action in Syria, but we should be looking to build the international coalition," Ayotte said. "The president should be speaking to the American people about this as to what the goals are going to be.

"Assad is very heavily tied to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Heaven forbid that those chemical weapons would be given to one of those organizations."

Ayotte spoke to Patch on Wednesday at Port City Air in Portsmouth during a statewide tour of businesses.

Groups within Syria said this week that forces aligned with President Bashar Assad launched an artillery barrage that included chemical weapons, killing more than 300 people, according to the Associated Press. Assad claimed no chemical weapons were used.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday that Obama was deciding what action should be taken, according to CNN.


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