Sanders and Welch Praise Prospect of Peaceful Resolution in Syria

* Updated below with new comments from Sen. Patrick Leahy *

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) voiced a cautious optimism late Monday that the United States might yet find a peaceful resolution to its standoff with Syria.

The comments came after a frenetic day of diplomacy and public relations, in which U.S. and Russian officials signaled a willingness to avert a showdown by convincing Syria to surrender its chemical weapons to international monitors. That development prompted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to postpone a test vote previously scheduled for Wednesday on whether to strike Syria.

In a written statement released late Monday, Sanders said he “appreciate[s] that the majority leader delayed a vote and that President Obama is prepared to work with Russia to have Syria turn over control of its chemical weapons to international monitors.” 

While Sanders has yet to explicitly state his opposition to Obama’s proposed strikes, he has expressed grave reservations about the prospect in countless interviews with the national news media. 

“Most Americans would support an effort that could remove chemical weapons from Syria without American military involvement in another Middle East war,” he continued in the statement. “I urge the president and Russia to work vigorously to achieve that goal.”

Welch, meanwhile, addressed the developments Monday night during an hourlong “telephone town hall meeting” with Vermonters. 

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