Troiano Statement Regarding President Obama's ISIS Speech

Press Release

President Obama's speech about his strategy for dealing with the threat of ISIS on September 10th was an important moment for the country. Nick Troiano released the following statement regarding the President's speech and the threat of ISIS.

Stemming the advance of, and ultimately eradicating the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) is critical to preventing a safe haven through which terrorists can plot, fund, and launch attacks on our country.

While I applaud President Obama for finally beginning to take the threat of ISIS seriously and articulating a plan to "degrade and ultimately destroy" the terrorist group, the president's rhetorical reluctance to acknowledge the severity of the present conflict is reflected in his lackluster approach to confronting it.

The president's plans for expanded air strikes, support for the Iraqi Security Forces and Syrian opposition, counter-terrorism efforts and humanitarian assistance are steps in the right direction, but are likely insufficient in achieving his stated goals.

I support greater efforts to leverage U.S. Special Forces for targeted operations against ISIS leadership, to pressure regional partners to contribute ground troops in Syria, and to prevent another vacuum of security and stability in the aftermath of these efforts.

As we mark the 13th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks, America and its leaders must remain committed to doing all that is necessary to protect our homeland over the long-term ---- not just what is politically expedient in the moment.

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