Hawaii Reps Oppose Further US Military Involvement in Iraq
Gabbard and Hanabusa speak out as Hagel sends aircraft carrier to Persian Gulf.
Hawaii’s two representatives in the U.S. House have signaled their strong opposition to the resumption听of a U.S. military presence in Iraq.
Their comments come as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel “is bringing U.S. military forces closer to Iraq as anti-government insurgents gain ground in the fight against Iraqi troops,” .
The American military activity comes in response to the march of rebels with the听Islamic State of Iraq听and Syria听on Baghdad. Today,听Hagel ordered听the听aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush听moved into the Persian Gulf.
U.S. Rep.听Colleen Hanabusa on Friday听released a statement听opposing any further U.S. military involvement in听Iraq.
Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush honor the 90th birthday of the ship’s namesake, April 13, 2014.
Official U.S. Navy Page
听鈥President Obama needs to seriously consider the lack of objectives or an endgame the U.S. would achieve through any further military involvement in Iraq,鈥 Hanabusa said in a press release.
She continued: 鈥淚 have opposed our involvement in Iraq since 2002, and continue to oppose it today. We know what the results are when we don鈥檛 fully consider the consequences of military action, and this miscalculation is听not worth repeating to involve our nation in a situation that is the result of a longstanding sectarian conflict.”
Also on听Friday,听Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, said that re-engaging in the country 鈥渕akes no sense鈥 and that she would oppose U.S. airstrikes, according to and .
鈥淚t makes no sense for us to consider going back there and getting involved in what truly is a religious civil war,鈥澨齭he said.
She also said that she would not support U.S. airstrikes in Iraq.
