Isakson joins Gingrey in opposing proposed military strike on Syria

MARIETTA — U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson joined Rep. Phil Gingrey on Monday in announcing his opposition to a military strike on Syria, while two other Cobb congressmen have not disclosed their position.

“Over the past week, I have traveled my state and have talked personally to hundreds of Georgians,” said Isakson, a Republican and resident of east Cobb. “Thousands more constituents have contacted my office by phone and email. It is clear to me that Georgians overwhelmingly oppose our country getting involved militarily in Syria.”

Isakson went on to say in his statement that, “The administration’s lack of a clear strategy is troubling, and the potential fallout following a military strike is also troubling.”

In addition to Isakson, Cobb County is represented by four others in both houses of Congress.

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss favors a military strike, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Marietta) is opposed to one, and U.S. Reps. David Scott (D-South Cobb) and Tom Price (R-Roswell) were undecided as of Monday.

An Associated Press poll showed that 61 percent of those surveyed nationwide want Congress to vote against authorization of U.S. military strikes in Syria and 26 percent want lawmakers to support such an action, with the remainder undecided.

Kerwin Swint, a political science professor at Kennesaw State University, said public sentiment is so strongly against a strike, particularly in Georgia, that he finds it very hard to see Congress authorizing one.

“A U.N. finding in the next week could change the dynamics somewhat,” Swint said. “And though it seems like a long shot, there are reports that Russia is trying to convince Syria to turn over their stockpiles (of chemical weapons), which could possibly lead the U.S. to reconsider a military strike. In any case, the U.S. should not act without cover from the U.N. and our international partners. It’s not in our direct security interests, and it’s too risky to act unilaterally.”