Idaho lawmakers wary of strike against Syria

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Idaho lawmakers in Washington, D.C., were deeply skeptical of President Obama’s plan for a strike against Syria’s chemical weapons infrastructure.

In responses this week, Republican U.S. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and Reps. Mike Simpson and Raul Labrador all expressed wariness such a strike would enhance U.S. power or bring a swifter end to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.

Risch committed to opposing a strike.

Obama says Assad’s government was responsible for numerous gas attacks, including one Aug. 21 said to have killed 1,429 people.

In Tuesday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, however, Risch worried a post-strike Assad would emerge stronger.

Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, support a strike.

Though Simpson is usually a Boehner ally, the Idaho Republican’s spokeswoman said he’s “strongly leaning against supporting military action.”

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