Choose peace over war, Gabbard implores Trump

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard urged President Donald Trump on Thursday to refrain from taking military action against Syria, saying it would escalate the conflict, resulting in more refugees and fewer resources to invest in rebuilding American communities.

“The people of Syria want peace more than anything else in the world,” said Gabbard in the letter addressed to the president. “Attacking Syria will not bring their war-torn country any closer to peace. U.S. military action against Syria will simply escalate and prolong the war, resulting in more senseless death, destruction, and suffering.”

“A U.S. military attack against Syria will certainly reinvigorate and resurrect the terrorizing forces of jihad and increase the flow of refugees into Europe and the United States,” she continued. “If you are truly concerned about the suffering of the Syrian people, then you must do all you can to bring about peace.”

In January 2017, Gabbard came under criticism for meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad without informing top Democrats during a fact-finding mission to the war-torn country. Under the Logan Act, unauthorized individuals are prohibited from contacting foreign governments that are in dispute with the U.S.

After reports that her Syria visit was paid for by a backer of Assad, Gabbard said she would personally pay for the trip.

Gabbard is also a signatory on a bipartisan letter to be sent to Trump, urging him to uphold the Constitution and War Powers Resolution of 1973 by obtaining authorization from Congress before ordering a military attack against Syria.