Congressman Ander Crenshaw, member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today (9/11) issued the following statement regarding President Obama's address to the nation on ISIL:
"On the 13th anniversary of attacks on the homeland, our thoughts and prayers turn to the families and loved ones who lost their lives and were injured that day. In their names, we fight to rid the globe of ISIL and all terrorists.
"They must be destroyed, and I support the military action necessary to do so. I also back additional authority to support Iraqi security forces and Syrian opposition on the ground. As a Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will be closely scrutinizing the steps we take; they must be long-term and comprehensive.
"Let's be crystal clear about the President's ISIL address: a speech does not equal strategy and action, and critical questions remain. Will the efforts to train Iraqi Security Forces and the Syrian opposition be sufficient to counter increasing numbers of terrorist acts? Will his outline fully stamp out the scourge of ISIL that we see today and prevent further threats tomorrow?
"The terrorism we are witnessing in the Middle East and Northern Africa poses a grave threat to our allies and friends there, in other parts of the world, as well as to the United States homeland. The action we take must match this threat.
"Failing to do so will only embolden ISIL and future organizations that wish to do us harm. I stand ready to work together with the President and all my colleagues to win this fight. There is no room for anything less that rooting out the evil of terrorism, once and for all."