Battenfeld: Outspoken Liz Warren stays silent on Syria
Battenfeld: Outspoken Liz Warren stays silent on Syria
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has been on the warpath against banks since going to Washington, but when it comes to launching a war against Syria, she and other liberal Massachusetts Democrats suddenly don't have much to say.
Warren, known for her outspoken stances, has turned timid on one of the most important issues a U.S. senator will ever face — whether to put American troops in another military conflict.
Asked to say whether she approves launching a strike against Syria, Warren's press office — which churns out releases regularly on financial industry abuses — did not get back to the Herald.
This is curious because Warren and other Massachusetts Democrats had been harshly critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq. But now it's different because Barack Obama is president and her former Senate colleague, John Kerry, is secretary of state.
We don't take it personally, though. She showed similar reluctance a few months ago to comment on Obama's decision to arm rebels against Syrian President Bashar Assad after he was accused of using chemical weapons.
Even new U.S. Sen. Ed Markey has done better than that. He didn't say anything very decisive, condemning Syria's use of chemical weapons, but at least he did say he won't support the use of U.S. troops in Syria.
Warren, Markey and U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) plan to hold a press conference today on gun violence but the issue everyone wants to talk about now is Syria. And that's where it gets tricky for a liberal Massachusetts Democrat.
Capuano, one of the most anti-war members of Congress, did provide a statement to the Herald.
"I am deeply troubled by reports of chemical weapons use in Syria and by the ongoing violence that has taken so many lives," Capuano said.
"As officials review possible responses to events in Syria I want to be clear: the Constitution requires that the Administration seek approval from Congress before taking military action," Capuano said.
Well, Obama and Kerry clearly aren't going to seek formal approval from Congress, but at least Capuano is registering some kind of opinion.
Warren should be more forceful on Syria. She has a chance to take a tough stand against the use of U.S. troops that could earn her more glowing reviews from liberals and give her a platform to run for the White House herself. But so far that's not happening.
Battenfeld: Outspoken Liz Warren stays silent on Syria
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/columnists/joe_battenfeld/2013/08/battenfeld_outspoken_liz_warren_stays_silent_on_syria
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