Honolulu Councilman Ikaika Anderson, a candidate for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, issued a statement Saturday (Sept. 7) opposing a U.S. attack on Syria over the alleged used of chemical weapons.

“Based on the current discussions and all reports to date, I cannot confidently support intervening with Syria at this time — I just cannot see what we would accomplish,” he said in a press release. 

Anderson notes, “We as a country are already incredibly strained. We have been at war for almost 13 years now. The cost of this war has come in the form sacrifice — countless American lives, resources and at the expense of great national treasure.”

Instead, Anderson said the country needs to “focus inwards” by directing resources to education, healthcare, transportation and renewable energy within the United States.

Anderson is competing against fellow Democrats Will Espero, a state senator, state Rep. Mark Takai and Councilman Stanley Chang. Should Civil Beat learn of their positions on Syria, we will publish accordingly.

Photo: Councilman Ikaika Anderson. (Courtesy)

—Chad Blair