Hawaii delegation pleased by delay of vote on actions against Syria

Members of Hawaii’s congressional delegation said they were encouraged by President Barack Obama’s decision to postpone a vote on authorizing military action against Syria for its use of chemical weapons.

"It is very similar to what we were hoping," U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa said after Obama’s address to the nation Tuesday. "I think the president … feels all the necessary parts are moving in the right direction."

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, in a prepared statement, indicated she too was pleased with Obama’s new stance. "The reopening of diplomatic dialogue between Syria and the international community is a hopeful sign, but, like many others, I believe it’s too early to tell if the regime will follow through," Hirono said.

Delaying a vote was the right move, said U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, reiterating that her opposition to a military strike remains strong.

"Any strike against (Syria) will help al-Qaida and other extreme terrorists," Gabbard said.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz could not be reached for comment after the speech.

Hanabusa said without Obama taking a hard stance, the United States would probably have been unable to get Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to reopen talks to end the use of chemical weapons.

She said the role of Russia, France, China and the United Kingdom in opposing the use of chemical weapons "cannot be downplayed" in influencing Assad’s decision. "He needed to know his allies weren’t going to support him," she said.

"I always felt that military force was not the way to address the Syrian conflict," Hana­busa said.