SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - South Dakota U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds both believe that President Trump's missile strike was just, targeted punishment for Syria's chemical attack on its own people.
Senator Thune says that after years of inaction, referring to the Obama Administration, the strike sends a clear message that brutal behavior by the Assad regime will not be tolerated.
He says the next step is for the U.S. and its allies to make a concerted effort to pressure a political solution that will result in the Syrian Strongman being removed from power.
Senator Rounds doesn't believe there will be "all-out war on something like this. I think this is a case where we send a very powerful message that, if they're going to thumb their nose at the rest of the world, there will be a cost to be paid."
Rounds says the missile strike against a Syrian air base may not be the last response from the United States. He says there may be more reactions. Rounds wonders if the nation is prepared for the next step.
Rounds says the U.S. and its allies must force a leadership change in Syria. He says the Syrian leadership needs to go. He says the message to Assad, as well as his regime, is that they crossed the line and they're going to pay a penalty for that.
The missile strike was widely welcome by most members of the international community. It was of course condemned by the Syrian government and its allies Russia and Iran.
Rounds says there are entangling alliances now in Syria and the Middle East. He says most Syrians and others in the Middle East "understand that this is really Iran whose propping up Assad." He says Russia is helping because they want to keep their bases in Syria. Rounds doesn't believe the Russians care that much about Assad, they just care about the bases.
He thinks the United States will have to shut down Assad's air force and take out his ability to inflict additional gas attacks and punish him for it.
Sen. John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says President Donald Trump must "be prepared to take other action" in Syria.
(Thanks Jerry Oster, WNAX Yankton)