Congresswoman Brown Comments on President Obama's Address on ISIS Threat
Statement
With regard to President Obama's address last night regarding the serious threat of the militant group, ISIS, Congresswoman Brown made the following statement:
"I strongly believe that President Obama laid out a clear and comprehensive counterterrorism strategy to degrade and destroy the terrorist group ISIS, which has already brutally murdered two American journalists along with thousands of innocent Iraqis and Syrians.
Beyond a doubt, the strength and brutality of this organization should not be underestimated. Indeed, their self-proclaimed goal of establishing a "caliphate,' is extremely dangerous for the region and the world. Alarmingly, the organization has quickly gone from 4000 fighters in Iraq to 30,000, with another 50,000 fighting in Syria. And ironically, ISIS is armed with captured U.S. weapons, and its forces are led by highly trained officers who deserted Iraq's U.S. trained army. They also have ample economic assets, including cash from captured oil. Moreover, their success is drawing a steady supply of fresh recruits, many from the West. In fact, as Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff pointed out, "thousands of Europeans and other foreigners who have joined the group have passports, (allowing them) to travel freely to carry the fight back to their home countries -- including the United States.' Clearly, this terrorist organization and its goals are a direct threat to the United States.
Committing U.S. air power, training, and equipment is only one aspect of this strategy, although a critical one. Defeating ISIS will require a strong international coalition, which the United States is already assembling. It also demands an inclusive Iraqi government that works across sectarian lines to reach political agreement, and I am hopeful that the new government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will work to achieve this goal.
Next week, Congress will be voting on a Continuing Resolution, in which, I fully expect, will include President Obama's request for funding to defeat ISIS."
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