Congressman Brett Guthrie Voting Against Syria Resolution

After receiving a classified security briefing, Kentucky Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie is opposing the Obama administration's resolution to launch military strikes against Syria.The announcement comes as the rest of Kentucky's congressional delegation is either vocally opposing or questioning the president's request to authorize action against the Assad regime.Fellow Republican congressmen Andy Barr, Thomas Massie and Ed Whitfield have all voiced opposition.In a statement to WFPL, longtime Kentucky lawmaker Hal Rogers says he wants "precise" details before deciding.And the lone Democrat in the federal delegation, Congressman John Yartmuth, told WFPL he remains unconvinced by the Obama administration's arguments.Guthrie says he is voting against the resolution because none of the information shared by Obama's national security advisors on Monday is persuasive enough to support military action."There is no doubt that the Middle East is ripe with conflict and that the chemical weapons attack against the Syrian people on August 21 was horrific," Guthrie said in a statement. "But I do not believe that a bombing campaign against the Assad regime would be appropriate, and may even further enflame regional tensions."On the Senate side, Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky has sent a letter to lawmakers in both chambers urging them to vote against the resolution.From Paul's office: The burden of proof lies with those who wish to engage in war. The resolution to authorize force in Syria goes too far, and also not far enough. It does too much, but also too little. This resolution does too much by involving us in a civil war in which there is no clearly defined American national security interest. Even the State Department argues that there is no military solution here that is good for the Syrian people, and the best path forward is a political solution. I will not vote to send my son, your son, or anyone’s daughter to fight for stalemate.Paul's letter comes as Senate Democrats delayed a procedural vote on Syria while President Obama is set to address the nation on Tuesday evening.Political observers note that among Kentucky lawmakers in Washington, the most powerful, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, has yet to comment on what the U.S. response in Syria should be.