Shimkus Still Opposed To Strike In Syria, Doesn’t Trust Russia

Republican Congressman John Shimkus of Collinsville says he’s still not convinced a military strike against Syria is a good idea.

President Obama has urged Congress to allow him to move forward with an attack against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who he claims has used chemical weapons against his own people.

But the president now says a Russian initiative could remove the threat of chemical weapons in Syria without the use of force, and he’s urging Congress to postpone a vote on military action.

Congressman Shimkus said he's skeptical about a possible diplomatic deal.

"I'm not very hopeful that you can trust a dictator who just gassed his people - and a country that intervenes in the internal affairs of other countries, and invaded a sovereign country of Georgia," he said. "We better be careful who we're trusting."

Shimkus said he questions whether rounding up chemical stockpiles will actually happen.

“So, we gather up 99-percent of them," he said.  "Does this become another Iraq where we think they still have small percentages, and they’re hidden and moved around.”

Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Rodney Davis of Taylorville says he doesn't think lawmakers should back U.S. military involvement in Syria.

Davis said he thinks President Obama lacks a clear objective for Syria.