Letter urges Grassley, Latham and King to vote no on Syria strike

More than 30 people with names easily recognized in Iowa’s political community have co-signed a letter, drafted by Iowa Republican Party leaders, urging the Republicans in Iowa’s congressional delegation to vote no on a congressional resolution that would authorize the use of military force in Syria.

        SOME BACKGROUND:

• Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, last week said he’s reserving judgment on the issue. This week Grassley said he’s getting 100 percent negative feedback on the idea of US military intervention in Syria. 
• Congressman Tom Latham, a Republican from Clive, said last Thursday the president hasn’t made the case.
• Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Kiron, talked to The Omaha World Herald about it last week. King’s newly-hired communications director hasn”t responded to Radio Iowa’s calls or email.

The news release from the Iowa GOP about the letter, followed by the letter:

Iowa Leaders Sign Joint Letter to Grassley, Latham and King
GOP Officers, State Legislators & Christian Leaders say “No” to Military Action in Syria

DES MOINES, Iowa-  Today Republican and Conservative leaders from across Iowa came together to co-sign a joint letter to Iowa’s Republican federal office holders, urging them to oppose military action in Syria. A vote on whether or not to authorize the use of force against Syria is expected in the United States House and Senate sometime next week. The open letter comes from over 30 individuals and is comprised of officers and leaders in the state Republican Party, elected officials, and respected Christian leaders. This list is expected to grow. A petition has been set up which Iowans can add their names to at the link here. The letter to Senator Grassley, Congressman Tom Latham and Congressman Steve King is as follows:

Dear Senator Grassley, Congressman Latham and Congressman King,
 
We, the undersigned, have come together in a show of unity to encourage you not to support President Obama’s reckless plans to get this nation embroiled in yet another military conflict in the Middle East, which the American people clearly do not support.
 
Polls show only 9% of the American people want our military involved in Syria.  We shouldn’t use our troops to salvage the credibility of this administration and compound the President’s foreign policy mistakes by taking military action, an act of war which could easily escalate into a global conflict. While the news reports out of Syria are troubling, we know from experience that America getting involved will only make things worse.
 
It’s not fair to our troops to keep asking them to step up to be the world’s police force. For over ten years they have been called up again and again on similar efforts in the Middle East, resulting in the death of thousands of American soldiers and untold numbers of civilians, instability in the region, a broken economy at home, and a national debt of $17,000,000,000,000.
 
Further, our efforts in the Middle East have made it easier to target religious minorities, particularly Christians. The Associated Press is reporting that Christian villages in Syria are already being attacked by Al-Qaeda. Arab media has reported that as soon as we’re done helping Al-Qaeda in Syria they will turn around and target the hundreds of thousands of Syrian Christians.  Why would we ask our troops to fight alongside Al-Qaeda, the very enemy we hold responsible for 9/11?

Nothing good can come of getting America involved in this civil war. We respectfully implore you to put a stop to this administration’s dangerous plans by voting “No” on any authorization of military action in Syria.
 

Sincerely,
 
A.J. Spiker
Chairman, Republican Party of Iowa
Member, Republican National Committee
 
David Fischer
Co-Chairman, Republican Party of Iowa
 
Steve Scheffler
Republican National Committeeman from Iowa
President, Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition

Tamara Scott
Republican National Committeewoman from Iowa
 
Bob Vander Plaats
President, The Family Leader
 
Steve Deace
Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host
 
Dr. Drew Ivers
State Finance Chairman, Republican Party of Iowa
 
John Kabitzke
Treasurer, Republican Party of Iowa
 
Mark Doland
Secretary, Republican Party of Iowa
Pastor, Park Church of Christ
 
Pastor Brad Sherman
 
Jeff Mullen
Lead Pastor, Point of Grace Church
 
Pastor Cary Gordon
Cornerstone World Outreach
 
Michael Demastus
Pastor of Fort Des Moines Church of Christ
 
Randy Davis
Drawing Closer Ministries
 
Pastor Robert Deever
Grace West Church
 
State Senator Jack Whitver
 
State Senator Dennis Guth
 
State Representative Jason Schultz
 
State Representative Dwayne Alons
 
State Representative Tom W. Shaw
 
State Representative Greg Heartsill
 
Former State Representative Danny and Joy Carroll
 
Former State Representative Kim Pearson
 
Chad Steenhoek
Iowa GOP State Central Committee
 
Kris Thiesen
Iowa GOP State Central Committee
 
Dave Cushman
Iowa GOP State Central Committee
 
Marcus Fedler
Iowa GOP State Central Committee
 
Joel Kurtinitis
Iowa GOP State Central Committee
 
Tony Krebsbach
Iowa GOP State Central Committee
 
Jeff Shipley
Iowa GOP State Central Committee

Tammy Kobza

State Director, Eagle Forum of Iowa