Trump should consider ‘limited military strike’ after reports of Syrian chemical attack, Rep. Thornberry says

In the wake of reports of a deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria on Sunday, House Armed Services Committee chair Mac Thornberry suggested the U.S. examine possible military options against the “butchers” who carried out the suspected strike.

“I think a limited military strike against those units that carry out these attacks should definitely be considered just as he [President Trump] did a year ago,” Thornberry, R-Texas, told Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures.”

Trump authorized a military strike against a Syrian government air base in April 2017, retaliating for a chemical weapons attack that had just taken place. The U.S. launched 59 Tomahawk missiles, officials said.

Trump on Sunday reacted to the new chemical attack on Twitter, slamming former President Barack Obama for not taking a tougher stance against Syria’s strongman leader, Bashar al-Assad, for using chemical weapons on civilians – actions Obama, in 2012, said would cross a “red line.”

“If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!” Trump wrote in a tweet.

The president also warned Russia and Iran that there would be a “big price to pay” for supporting the Assad regime.

Meanwhile, Thornberry said Moscow is backing the Syrian leader because it is looking to advance its “interest,” regardless of the cost or who is hurt, adding that the strength of U.S. armed forces is key to keeping Russia in line.

“Our strength, especially our military strength, is absolutely essential for pushing back against Russia and what they’re trying to do in various places against the world,” he explained.