Rep. Pompeo: More “robust” response needed; Rep. Engel: “Not simply about a strike” in Syria

Following a classified briefing last night, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), member of House Intelligence Committee, appear on “New Day” to talk about Congress’s plan of action for Syria. Rep. Pompeo criticized President Obama for not going far enough and will urge fellow Congressmen for a more “robust” military plan in the region, saying that “we waited a couple years too long.” Rep. Engel told CNN’s Kate Bolduan that he thinks that a majority of Congress will vote to take military action and agrees with Rep. Pompeo that this is a “long-standing interest” that is “not simply about a strike for the moment.”

Rep. Pompeo said, “I’m going to make the case that the president’s response needs to be much more vigorous, much more robust, and actually consider America’s strategic and national interests in the Middle East more broadly in Syria than some simple few missiles being lobbed into Syria. We need a strategic vision with real definable and achievable goals, and I’m hopeful that Congress can help the president get there over this next week.”

“… I think [legislators] are skeptical because they’re hearing questions at home. They are surprised that the President decided to come to Congress,” Rep. Engel said. “I think that when all the facts are known, and when legislators in both parties see what is best for the United States, I think that the vote will be overwhelmingly yes. It might be close. I said overwhelmingly, but perhaps not so overwhelmingly. I do think that a majority will vote yes. I think to vote no would be a catastrophe.”

“New Day” airs weekday mornings from 6-9 a.m. ET on CNN.