By Amie Hoeber, Candidate, U.S. House of Representatives, MD District 6
Syria and its on-going civil war may seem a long way from Maryland. And while pictures of children and adults suffering from the aftermath of the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons are heart-wrenching, our President and Allies have responded with appropriate force. So, what more is to be done?
I submit there is one more very important thing – namely, to think about who you vote for in this year’s midterm election. The outcome will affect our country’s military capability to respond to tyrants like Assad who violate international agreements with impunity.
And that’s where the actions in Syria come home to Maryland’s 6thCongressional District. Just ten weeks ago our current congressman, John Delaney, joined 161 other Democrats to vote against the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 695) which funds U.S. military forces, including those used against Syria. You should ask those who seek to replace Congressman Delaney what their positions are relative to ensuring the adequacy of our military capabilities. If you believe that America’s military can effectively deter – or punish, if necessary – our enemies with the oldest and smallest Air Force in our country’s history and a Navy with fewer ships than we have had since the First World War, then perhaps you’ll be content being represented by someone who votes against our military.
However, if you think that maintaining strong forces of freedom is important, then you should be represented by someone who has “been there, done that.” I am a candidate for Congress for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, and I am thoroughly committed to maintaining a strong military. As a former Deputy Under Secretary of the U.S. Army, I have seen how effective a powerful U.S. military can be in securing peace.
Ensuring “peace through strength” is what links Maryland to Syria today.
