#WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on President Obama’s announcement of the deployment of American troops to Syria:

“President Obama’s decision to put approximately 50 American troops on the ground in Syria is troubling. We continue, without obvious success or strategy, to fight on both sides of a messy, Middle Eastern civil war. In any event, the commitment of American soldiers into combat requires an Authorization for the Use of Military Force from Congress, which has not been passed.

“Escalating the violence in the region will worsen the refugee crisis and complicate a picture that already involves Syrian troops loyal to Assad, rebel fighters, ISIL, Russia, Iran, Turkey and Kurdish forces, many working at cross-purposes. Instead, we should be moving toward a diplomatic solution through international negotiations by all of the nations with interests in the region. I have introduced a resolution in Congress calling on the Administration to do just that, and written a letter to the President with 54 other members of Congress urging the same. I hope the President will respond by focusing on diplomacy.”

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