Although the brutality of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has persisted for two-and-a-half years, international outrage erupted in full force late last month when the Syrian government launched an apparent chemical weapons attack outside Damascus.  The onslaught tragically killed more than 1,400 Syrians, including 426 innocent children.  Days after the attack, President Obama called on Congress to authorize the use of U.S. military force against the Assad regime. 

Widespread Suffering

There is no doubt that Assad is responsible for enormous human suffering, which continues to escalate and threaten stability in the region.  In early July, I spoke on the Senate floor about the need for President Obama to follow the lead of our NATO allies and empower moderate opposition forces to curb Assad’s growing momentum.  Under the dictator’s watch, the conflict in Syria has claimed more than 100,000 lives and forced at least 1.7 million Syrians from their homes.  Many now fear Assad’s flagrant violation of the international ban on chemical weapons could embolden other volatile states, such as Iran, to act with similar aggression. 

Rising Questions, Concerns

At this pivotal hour, the prospect of military action in Syria raises serious questions about the Obama Administration’s goals for U.S. involvement in the Middle East.  I am not alone in asking whether a limited military strike would truly advance the possibility of a negotiated peace settlement and an end to Assad’s violent and tyrannical rule.  Like the many Mississippians who have contacted my office in recent days, I am concerned that misguided tactics could have a profound impact on U.S. interests.  Americans are right to demand a robust and open debate from Congress about the consequences of intervention before lawmakers cast their votes. 

Looming Budget Crisis

Alongside the debate on the Syrian crisis is the swift approach of two important financial deadlines – funding the federal government before the next fiscal year starts on October 1 and avoiding a default on America’s debt.   Although the federal debt reached its $16.7 trillion borrowing limit months ago, the Treasury Department is expected to run out of options for paying its bills by mid-October unless the debt ceiling is raised.

As Republicans have repeatedly insisted, an increase in the government’s borrowing power should be accompanied by meaningful spending cuts.  For the past two years, Americans have watched political brinkmanship eclipse the pursuit of a long-term deficit reduction plan to rein in excessive government spending.  In that time, the federal debt has risen by more than $2 trillion.  According to the independent Congressional Budget Office, U.S. debt will be greater than $25 trillion by 2023.

Reversing this upward trend and replacing sequestration’s indiscriminate defense cuts with sensible budget savings will take bipartisan cooperation and leadership.  Letting crisis after crisis dictate budget policy is not a substitute for real and lasting solutions.

The coming months promise to present a number of opportunities for Congress to shape the direction of American leadership – both at home and abroad.  In keeping with the spirit of the Senate as “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” I am hopeful that the impending debates will lead to thoughtful and practical responses to the pressing issues of our day.