BRUNSWICK, ME ­– U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) tonight released the following statement in response to the air strikes in Syria:

“The international community cannot and must not tolerate the use of chemical weapons. They have been out of bounds – even in wartime with a few notable exceptions – for 100 years, since World War One, because of the horror they inflict on the victims. Following the President’s announcement tonight, I am hopeful our response to the Assad Regime’s use of chemical weapons is carefully calibrated, and would stress that our actions must be coordinated with our international partners. My concern remains that any action that is not carefully targeted and coordinated could result in an unintended escalation of this conflict from a civil war to an expanded international struggle. We have many servicemembers in the Middle East and must always keep them in our thoughts during these dangerous times. Finally, Congress must take on a larger role in this decision making, as it is incumbent upon our nation’s legislative body to authorize the use of military force. As we move forward in the days ahead, I will continue to push for a more comprehensive strategy in Syria – as I did with the Obama Administration – and urge the current administration to work closely with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, and our partners around the world to help resolve this troubling conflict.”

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