Mass Live - U.S. Rep. Richard Neal Praises President Obama's Decision to Seek Congressional Approval on Syria

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By Robert Rizzuto

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., is the latest member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation to offer praise and support for President Barack Obama's decision to seek Congressional approval before authorizing a U.S. military strike on Syria.

In a statement, Neal said the Democratic president made the correct choice as he reflected on the 2002 vote in the House of Representatives in regards to the invasion of Iraq.

"I am pleased that President Obama is going to seek Congressional approval for any use of force in Syria. As someone who voted against the Iraq war, I want to see if the UN inspectors conclude that chemical weapons were used to attack and kill innocent civilians outside Damascus on August 21st," Neal said. "While the Syrian government needs to held accountable for its outrageous behavior, I believe that every diplomatic option ought to be exhausted before the United States and its international partners contemplate any military action in the region."

On Saturday, Obama said that despite the results of an investigation determining that the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad allegedly used deadly sarin gas on a rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital of Damascus, he will seek approval from Congress before taking action. U.S. Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, both Massachusetts Democrats, also said they appreciate Obama's decision not to make a unilateral proclamation without congressional support.

The Assad regime, however, took Obama's decision as a sign of weakness, calling it a "historic American retreat."

The U.S. Congress is expected to take up the issue of Syria sometime next week when it reconvenes from summer recess.

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