Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) on Monday called a self-imposed “red line” by President Barack Obama’s on the use of chemical weapons in Syria “embarrassing,” firmly arguing that American troops should not be reeled into the conflict.
Asked by MSNBC host Mara Schiavocampo whether he was concerned that not authorizing a military strike would send the wrong message to Syria, the New York Democrat said “I love Obama,” but a president drawing a red line that could potentially lead the nation to war was “unheard of.”
“So, of course, it’s embarrassing,” Rangel said. “I wish it didn’t happen. I guess Secretary [John] Kerry is even more embarrassed than me after making his emotional speech that this was urgent.”
Rangel added that he was glad Obama decided to give Congress the opportunity to debate a military strike before ordering one himself.
“During those discussions, I hope that other people in the international community would come forward and take this great decision off of the Congress, because we have to make it,” he said. “Take it off of the Congress and provide some solution where we are not putting our kids in harm’s way to solve an international problem that we feel bounded, not by law, but because the president has drawn a red line.”
Watch the segment below:
