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Collins says questions about Syria still unanswered and his vote is undecided

By Howard B. Owens

Earlier today, we asked the office of Rep. Chris Collins to provide us with an update on his thinking regarding the Obama Administration's request for congressional authorization to bomb Syria.

Here's a statement from Collins:

“I remain undecided on how I will vote on the authorization of U.S. military force in Syria. As I have said before, the situation in Syria is very troubling and increasingly complex. I continue to have serious questions that remain unanswered as to what the objectives of a military strike would be, which countries would stand with America militarily, and what the administration's plan would be if the strike failed to meet its objectives. My constituents continue to contact my offices voicing their opinions, the vast majority of which are against U.S. involvement, and I encourage them to continue to do so.”

Christopher Putnam

How is his vote still undecided? His constituents have made it clear that they want him to vote no.

A wise man one said

"Meddle not in the affairs of other nations."

Thomas Jefferson

Sep 6, 2013, 5:25pm Permalink
Gary Spencer

I e-mailed Collins and called both Shummer & Gillabrand (sp).
Please, take the few minutes to contact your (our) representatives,
Its worth the time. Although I believe Pres. Obama will send bombs either way, he has said as much, at least we should make our opinons known.

Sep 6, 2013, 5:49pm Permalink
Fred GUNDELL

But we always do. We stick ou.r noses in, and nobody else does. It started in Lebanon, moved to Kuwait, back to Iraq, over to Egypt, over to Afganistan, Pakistan, next to Libya, add in Chad and Darfur, and now you see what religion will do for you. Go to the Mosque and pray, go outside and gas the children. All for religion. Mark my words, the day will come when we will have to drop the Big one right in the middle of Tehran. They will leave us no choice. the first weapon discharged toward Israel will set the middle east on fire. I just do not believe that Countries like Russia and China support these Rogue Nations. Why?? They must know what is going on. They don't have their heads in the sand do they?? What do they stand to gain by supporting these thugs? But they do> Collins better wake up and vote against the intervention. Hochul's vote for Obama Care cost her the job, and this could cost Collins

Sep 6, 2013, 5:55pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Um, Hochul never voted on Obamacare. It was enacted before she was in office. In fact, she voted to undo some provisions of the health care act. Just sayin ...

Sep 6, 2013, 6:40pm Permalink
John Stone

Just about EVERY elected "representative" in the entire nation is reporting that they are receiving an incredibly disproportional response from the electorate they each supposedly "represent" saying NO. I mean like the areas which show the highest numbers of folks saying "yes" are getting those yesses once for every 500 "NO" calls.

The average Joe and Jane really needs to look at the reality of exactly why the founders of this nation gave us the Second Amendment, and I assure you that it has NOTHING to do with hunting or sports! It was enumerated for days such as these.

Sep 7, 2013, 8:49am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Fred, Islam seeks world domination, this is the end game for the faithful. The koran teaches this by implying that jews, christians,
and all who don't believe in allah, to be the "worst of creatures" .
The choices for outsiders are: convert, subvert, or die. Mohammed himself is credited with beheading 600 - 900 men and boys. I beleive our lord and savior, JC, has about zero beheadings to his credit. Just sayin!
In my opinion, we couldn't nuke tehran fast enough, the sooner the better.

Sep 7, 2013, 10:43am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Raymond, U.S. interventionism goes back a lot further than Korea ... try 1890 and Argentina, or more appalling, Teddy Roosevelt's adventures in the Philippines, which resulted in 600,000 Filipino's dying. There were multiple interventions in Nicaragua in the 19th Century.

We interfered in Japan's internal affairs, turning them from isolationists who presented no threat to the world into an empire intent on conquest and war.

Of course, we had no business getting involved in the European War (aka World War I).

Sep 7, 2013, 11:43am Permalink
Jeff Allen

Another way to differentiate Christianity from Islam is this: The New Testament desires that everyone CHOOSE to follow Jesus Christ, Islam desires that everyone who is not Muslim cease to exist.

Sep 7, 2013, 12:15pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Hardly unique.

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)

In my short term on this planet I have seen Catholic Vs. Protestant in Ireland, Greek Orthodox Vs. Sunni in Cyprus, Buddhist Vs. Catholic in Vietnam, Hindu Vs. Muslim Vs. Sikh Vs. Christian Vs. Buddhist in India, Sunni Vs. Shiite in Iraq, Muslim Vs. Christian in Nigeria, Catholic Vs. Protestant Vs. (you-name-it) in the Congo, Buddhist Vs. Hindu in Sri Lanka, Muslim Vs. Muslim in Indonesia, Muslim Vs. Coptic in Egypt...

One would think all of this nonsense would have ended in 1939 with the release of "The Wizard of Oz."

Sep 7, 2013, 2:01pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

Last time I checked, 2 Chronicles was not in the New Testament and therefore chronologically inaccurate to use out of context to support a position concerning the complete revelation of God. The sooner we wise up and stop trying to bend over backwards to define Islam as something it is not and fundamental adherents as peace loving evangelists, the sooner we can go about the business of protecting both our security here and abroad. Removing the argument of the acts of human adherents and basing the debate on the complete revelation of the Bible and the Koran alone paints an entirely polar opposite view.

Sep 7, 2013, 8:37pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

There are peaceful Islamist just as there are peaceful Christians. Westboro Baptist is no more representative of Christianity than Al Queda or Wahabists are of Islam. Generalizations do no one justice. The church in the dark ages was just as brutal for centuries inquisitions, crusades and such.

Religion is nothing more than a man or several men's interpretation of God. Some are closer than others or have progressed to what may be a more accurate. But every man has to find his own relationship with God. No religion is perfect, expecting one to be so is kind of a rather high expectation.

All I know is most of us can look at a beautiful sunset, or a child playing with a puppy and say that's good. Or we see a man hurt another, or a predator rip apart a cute helpless animal and say its bad. Follow that guide and maybe you can begin to understand. None of us has all the answers... but when you meet someone totally at peace with everyone and a truly notable person then you have seen someone closer than us to those answers. That's all never set up too many expectations they are more likely to fail.

Sep 7, 2013, 9:03pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

As for war and actions in Syria. I think "We the People" are sick of our Govt showing more support for things outside the US and its people than us. Wars are no longer the economic engines they once were, We no longer see the economic boons like we saw after WW I and II. No more clean conclusions and so on. Time to stop the cycle and try something different.

Sep 7, 2013, 9:08pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Kyle, we are talking about violent/radical followers of Islam, who can be found in most any part of the world.
Every Christian in the country denounced westboro, something you don't see from the muslim community.
Jihad is happening now, not some centuries ago. In the koran, I beleive in the Hediths, Jihad is meant to mean," my struggle ".
Now where have I heard that before?

Sep 9, 2013, 9:40pm Permalink

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