San Diego's Congressional Delegation Largely Undecided on Military Action in Syria

Rep. Juan Vargas has come out strongly for military action against Syria, but other members of San Diego's Congressional delegation remain undecided.

President Obama plans to address the nation on Tuesday evening to seek public and Congressional support for military action against Syria following evidence that poison gas was used by the government of Bashar al-Assad.

Vargas, a freshman Democrat whose district extends from Imperial Beach along the border into Imperial County, strongly supports military action. He announced his position Thursday, making a statement on the steps of the San Diego Hall of Justice.

"I've come to the conclusion after reading all the information, that we in fact should do what the president is asking us to do, and that is limited strikes against Syria,'' Vargas said.

Rep. Susan Davis, a veteran Democratic Congresswoman whose district includes La Mesa, Lemon Grove and El Cajon as well as parts of Chula Vista and San Diego, said in late August that "it is unconscionable for a government to use chemical weapons against its own people," but added that "making a decision on what is in the best interests of the American people will take thoughtful and cautious deliberation."

Rep. Darrell Issa, a veteran Republican Congressman whose district includes Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside and parts of Orange County, said that in order to earn his vote for military action, President Obama must “present a clear plan focused on effective humanitarian intervention or our national security interests.”

Rep. Scott Peters, who represents Coronado, La Jolla, Poway and large parts of San Diego, said in August that he would "need to determine our intended objective, the specific actions to be taken, the expected response, our exit strategy, and how these efforts will protect American interests both in the region and here at home.  

"San Diegans have paid a particularly heavy price for our engagement in Iraq and  Afghanistan in the past decade," the freshman Democrat from La Jolla noted.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican whose district includes Santee, Ramona and much of east San Diego County, said he’s uncertain about Obama’s strategy. Hunter recently visited the Syria-Jordan border and called for the U.S. to train and funnel small arms to the Free Syrian Army.