Brian Jones: “I am on the floor today because I believe that Congress must put an end to the waste of American lives and taxpayer…”

“I am on the floor today because I believe that Congress must put an end to the waste of American lives and taxpayer dollars overseas. Recently, President Obama requested $500 million to train and arm Syrian rebels. In his editorial, ``Congress Can Stop Obama's Ramp Up to War,'' Pat Buchanan made an excellent point, saying: Before Congress takes up his proposal, both Houses should demand that Obama explain exactly where he gets the constitutional authority to plunge us into what the President himself calls ``somebody else's civil war.'' Buchanan goes on to comment: Syria has not attacked us. Syria does not threaten us. Why are we joining a jihad to overthrow the Syrian Government? Mr. Speaker, Iraq is another country in which America has again become involved to the detriment of our best interests. A former commandant of the Marine Corps, who has been my adviser for the past 6 years, stated in a recent email to me, ``We should not put boots on the ground.'' He went on to say that the situation in Iraq is ``a Middle East issue that needs a Middle East solution,'' not more American troops. Unfortunately, there are currently 750 American boots on the ground in Iraq, with authorization from the President for up to 770 in the future.…”