ISIS insurgency public comments

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The group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is a Sunni off-shoot of al-Qaeda attempting to create a new Islamic state, free of the leadership of the region's Shiite governments. After ISIS took control of large portions of both Iraq and Syria, the U.S., under orders from President Barack Obama first ordered support troops be sent to Iraq in order to help coordinate defenses around Baghdad and secure American locations in the region. The first bombing raid in Iraq by the U.S. began on August 8, 2014 and international coalition air strikes expanded to cover Syria on September 23. The administration and Congress also agreed on additional funding for the training of Syrian rebels to prevent American and coalition troops from having to engage in combat.

In an effort to dissuade western countries from getting involved, ISIS members released public videos of three beheadings, including two Americans, James Foley and Steven Sotloff. The third was a British aid worker, David Haines.

Timeline

The following chart shows a brief timeline of events. For a more in-depth explanation of events, visit the ISIS insurgency timeline.

ISIS insurgency timeline
Date	Event
June 10, 2014	ISIS took control of Mosul, Iraq.
June 14, 2014	The U.S. Department of Defense ordered an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf.
June 16, 2014	Two hundred and seventy-five military personnel were moved to the American embassy in Baghdad to protect it.
June 19, 2014	Three hundred U.S. military advisers were ordered to Iraq in order to help Iraqi forces improve intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
June 24, 2014	President Obama briefed all 100 senators on the situation between Iraq, Syria, and ISIS.
June 28, 2014	United States unmanned drones were deployed above Baghdad to protect U.S. service members and for reconnaissance.
June 30, 2014	Another 300 U.S. military advisers were ordered to Baghdad.
July 25, 2014	The U.S. House passed legislation blocking the president from sending ground troops to Iraq without congressional approval by a vote of 370-40.
August 7, 2014	The U.S. carried out a humanitarian mission to provide needed supplies to over 40,000 Yazidi people trapped in the Sinjar Mountains by ISIS forces. The same day, President Barack Obama authorized the U.S. to carry out air strikes on ISIS targets surrounding the Sinjar Mountains in hopes of creating a way for the Yazidi people to escape ISIS.
August 11, 2014	Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was ousted by the president of Iraq on August 11, 2014, a move that brought support from Obama and other heads of state around the world. Haider al-Abadi, of the same political party as Maliki, was nominated to replace Maliki.
August 12, 2014	President Obama ordered 130 more military advisers to Iraq to manage the humanitarian efforts of the U.S. government.
August 14, 2014	The combination of United States air strikes and Kurdish forces allowed the Yazidis to escape the Sinjar Mountains.
August 15, 2014	Prime Minister Maliki agreed to step down.
August 17, 2014	Air strikes were ordered on ISIS forces surrounding the Mosul Dam.
August 19, 2014	ISIS released a video portraying the beheading of American photojournalist James Wright Foley.
August 21, 2014	U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder launched a criminal investigation into the execution of James Foley by ISIS members.
August 26, 2014	The U.S. military began expanding its mission when President Obama approved unmanned surveillance drone flights over Syria in preparation of possible air strikes against ISIS in the country.
August 30, 2014	The U.S. and a coalition of European countries provided humanitarian aid drops into the city of Amirli, about 100 miles north of Baghdad, which had been under siege by ISIS forces for nearly two months. The help was requested by the Iraqi government.
September 2, 2014	ISIS released a video showing the death of American journalist Steven Sotloff.
September 8, 2014	A new cabinet was established in Iraq under Prime Minister al-Abadi, which allowed the government to move forward in establishing plans against ISIS.
September 10, 2014	President Obama announced the administration's plan to form a coalition to fight ISIS, as well as a plan to arm and train Syrian rebels fighting against the terrorist group.
September 13, 2014	ISIS released a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines.
September 19, 2014	President Obama signed into law congressional authorization for the U.S. military to arm and train Syrian rebels in order to fight ISIS.
September 21, 2014	ISIS released 46 Turkish hostages captured during the takeover of Mosul.
September 21, 2014	About 70,000 Kurds fled border towns in Syria to Turkey to escape ISIS advances.
September 23, 2014	United States and coalition forces attacked ISIS targets in Syria with missile strikes for the first time.

Obama administration reactions

President Barack Obama

June 12, 2014: While reviewing options in dealing with increasing violence in Iraq by ISIS, President Barack Obama stated, "What we’ve seen over the last couple of days indicates Iraq’s going to need more help." White House Press Secretary Jay Carney cleared up the comments by insisting the president did not mean sending soldiers back to Iraq, suggesting, "We don’t believe that that is the approach that we should take in this case."

A White House spokesperson reporting on Vice President Joe Biden's discussion with Prime Minister Maliki, stated that Biden, "made clear that the United States is prepared to continue to intensify and accelerate security support and cooperation with Iraq, under the Strategic Framework Agreement, to confront the urgent and growing threat posed by ISIL."

June 16, 2014: Secretary of State John Kerry explained that the United States would be willing to listen if Iran wanted to help end the violence against Iraq's government. He stated, "We're open to discussions if there is something constructive that can be contributed by Iran, if Iran is prepared to do something that is going to respect the integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and ability of the government to reform."

June 21, 2014: Secretary Hagel responded to whether Afghanistan was likely to have the same struggles as Iraq after U.S. troops were withdrawn, claiming, "First, Afghanistan is not Iraq, internally, historically, ethnically, religiously. Second, there is strong support in Afghanistan today for America’s continued [presence] as well as our NATO ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] there."

July 6, 2014: Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson admitted he was "concerned" about the possible threats posed by ISIS and heightened U.S. airport security in countries that had direct flights to the U.S.

August 8, 2014: While reiterating that the administration would not be sending troops into Iraq, Press Secretary Earnest insisted that the White House was not seeking additional funding for the conflict, explaining, "There are many challenges facing the people of Iraq right now, and it’s the view of the president that those challenges cannot be solved by the American military."

August 12, 2014: President Obama pledged support to Haider al-Abadi, upon being announced as a nominee to become Iraq's new prime minister, "There is no American military solution to the long-term crisis in Iraq. The only lasting solution is for Iraqis to come together and to form an inclusive government, one that represents the legitimate interests of all Iraqis and one that can unify the country’s fight against ISIL."

Secretary of State John Kerry also stated that the U.S. would support the new government regime in different ways, but he drew the line with the topic of sending troops back, claiming, "There will be no reintroduction of American combat forces into Iraq. Nobody, I think, is looking forwards to a return to the road that we’ve travelled." Kerry also noted talks with Australian Defense Minister David Johnston aimed at working out the provision of humanitarian aid to parts of Iraq, as well as developing a plan on how to handle fighting jihadists who wish to return to their home countries following the war.

President Obama reportedly called lawmakers' criticisms of his policies in Syria "horseshit," according to an article by the Daily Beast. The criticism came after Obama proposed a $500 million plan to provide arms to some moderate opposition factions in Syria, who were fighting the Assad regime. The Central Intelligence Agency had begun providing some weapons to the groups since 2013, but Obama defended the administration's actions, stating, "This idea that we could provide some light arms or even more sophisticated arms to what was essentially an opposition made up of former doctors, farmers, pharmacists and so forth, and that they were going to be able to battle not only a well-armed state but also a well-armed state backed by Russia, backed by Iran, a battle-hardened Hezbollah, that was never in the cards."

August 13, 2014: Kerry told reporters U.S. military personnel were looking into the idea of a rescue operation to get the trapped Yazidis being held on a mountain in Iraq. He stated, "Well, that's exactly what we're assessing," Kerry responded. "This is precisely what the team that [President Obama] sent in is prepared to do. We will make a very rapid and critical assessment, because we understand it's urgent to try and move those people off the mountain. And I hope we can have more to report in short order."

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes announced U.S. ground troops were still an option in attempting to free the Yazidis trapped by ISIS on Mt. Sinjar, explaining, "We don’t believe it’s sustainable to just have, you know, permanent airdrops to this population on the mountain. Some of them have been able to escape but, again, we want to get options in place to move them to a safer place."

While the White House was considering options, the Department of Defense released a statement downplaying the number of people stranded on Mt. Sinjar, as well as the concerns about their physical conditions. The spokesperson discussed a team of U.S. soldiers who provided an assessment of the humanitarian situation of the Yazidis, claiming, "The Yazidis who remain are in better condition than previously believed and continue to have access to the food and water that we have dropped. Based on this assessment the interagency has determined that an evacuation mission is far less likely. Additionally, we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance as needed and will protect U.S. personnel and facilities."

August 14, 2014: The Pentagon's press secretary defended action in Iraq as trying to stop a genocide, claiming, "We believe that the risk of genocide was real. We were, at the outset, talking about tens of thousands of these refugees who were being chased and slaughtered and fired upon by ISIL." He continued suggesting that while the administration's actions may have stopped ISIS from killing the Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar, "We’re not taking our eye off the ball in terms of humanitarian suffering in Iraq. Nobody’s doing high-fives here at the Pentagon because there are fewer people on the mountain than we thought. There’s no happy dances here because we think the situation is better; … we understand there continues to be human suffering in Iraq.

August 17, 2014: President Obama expanded the airstrikes in Iraq to target the Mosul Dam, a strategic location held by ISIS forces. White House staff sent a letter to Congress explaining, "The mission is consistent with the president’s directive that the U.S. military protect U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq, since the failure of the Mosul Dam could threaten the lives of large numbers of civilians and threaten U.S. personnel and facilities — including the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad."

August 20, 2014: Responding to Foley's beheading, John Kerry condemned ISIS, stating, "The world must know that the United States of America will never back down in the face of such evil. [ISIS] and the wickedness it represents must be destroyed, and those responsible for this heinous, vicious atrocity will be held accountable.

President Obama ensured that he would seek justice for Foley's execution, stating, "The United States of America will continue to do what we must to do protect our people. We will be vigilant and we will be relentless. When people harm Americans anywhere, we do what is necessary to make sure justice is done." He then went on to criticize the terrorist group, suggesting, "ISIL has no ideology of any value to human beings. Their ideology is bankrupt. They may claim out of expediency that they are at war with the United States or the West, but the fact is they terrorize their neighbors and offer them nothing but an endless slavery to their empty vision and the collapse of any definition of civilized behavior." He continued, "ISIL speaks for no religion. Their victims are overwhelmingly Muslim, and no faith teaches people to massacre innocents. No just god would stand for what they did yesterday and what they do every single day. ISIL has no ideology of any value to human beings."

August 21, 2014: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the launch of a criminal investigation into Foley's execution, insisting, "Those who would perpetrate such acts need to understand something. This Justice Department, this Department of Defense, this nation — we have long memories and our reach is very wide. We will not forget what happened and people will be held accountable, one way or the other."

Defense Secretary Hagel claimed ISIS was more than "just a terrorist group," and warned that they pose a serious threat. He explained, "[ISIL] is as sophisticated and well-funded as any group that we have seen. They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded."

August 25, 2014: Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, released a statement aimed at easing worries that ISIS was infiltrating the United States, suggesting, "I can tell you with great clarity and certainty that if that threat existed inside of Syria that it would certainly be my strong recommendation that we would deal with it. I have every confidence that the president of the United States would deal with it."

Former Central Intelligence Agency Director Michael Hayden warned not to take ISIS lightly, claiming, "We’ve underestimated these guys in the past … a failure of imagination before 9/11. We knew al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. We just didn’t think it would be a Nigerian on an airplane over Detroit. I wouldn’t underestimate these folks." He continued, "I think they’re quite strong regionally, and I think they have global ambitions. They haven’t quite shown that global capacity yet."

August 26, 2014: President Obama, after beginning reconnaissance flights over Syria, said of ISIS, "America does not forget, our reach is long, we are patient, justice will be done. Rooting out a cancer like ISIL won't be easy and it won't be quick."

August 28, 2014: The president insisted Congress would be involved in the process as the administration determined how best to move forward against ISIS, but he admitted a plan was not yet developed, stating, "I don't want to put the cart before the horse. We don't have a strategy yet." He continued, insisting, "We are gonna work politically and diplomatically with folks in the region. And we're gonna cobble together the kind of coalition that we need for a long-term strategy as soon as we are able to fit together the military, political and economic components of that strategy. There will be a military aspect to that. And it's gonna be important for Congress to know what that is, in part because it may cost some money." In response to criticism received over Obama's comment on not having a strategy, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest attempted to clarify, stating, "Our strategy is much broader than just the use of military force," claiming the administration had already been carrying out a "comprehensive strategy" for defeating ISIS.

August 29, 2014: In response to Britain raising their terror threat level, the White House responded with Earnest stating, "As it relates to the United States' national terror alert system, I don’t anticipate at this point that there’s a plan to change that level." He further explained, "We’ve been coordinating closely with our allies, both the Brits but others in Europe, about countering this threat and mitigating it. We’ve been doing that by cooperating through law enforcement channels, through national security channels but also through intelligence channels as well." Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson defended the administration's decision, stating that national security officials were "unaware of any specific, credible threat to the U.S. homeland from ISIL." Johnson then explained the measures that were being taken, insisting, "This government, in close collaboration with our international partners, has also taken a series of steps to track foreign fighters who travel in and out of Syria, and we are contemplating additional security measures concerning foreign fighters.

September 2, 2014: Upon being asked about the beheading of journalist Steven Sotloff, the second American journalist to be killed by ISIS while in captivity, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated, "I’m not in a position to confirm the authenticity of the video or the reports since I just walked out here. If there is a video that has been released, it is something that will be analyzed very carefully by the U.S. government and our intelligence officials to determine its authenticity."

September 3, 2014: President Obama issued a statement regarding Sotloff's death in captivity, confirming that the video was real, "Overnight, our government determined that tragically Steven [Sotloff] was taken from us in a horrific act of violence." He also explained, "It’s not only that we’re going to be bringing to justice those who perpetrated this terrible crime against these two fine young men, but more broadly the United States will continue to lead a regional and international effort against the barbaric and ultimately empty vision that ISIL represents and that’s going to take some time, but we’re going to get it done,” Obama said. “I’m very confident of it."

Vice President Biden, speaking before a crowd at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard claimed the administration would track down ISIS, stating, "When people harm Americans, we don't retreat, we don't forget. We take care of those who are grieving, and when that's finished, they [ISIS] should know — we will follow them to the gates of hell, until they are brought to justice, because hell is where they will reside." He gave the speech at the same location he told a crowd that he would chase Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell" during a vice presidential debate in 2012.

Defense Secretary Hagel defended President Obama's statement that ISIS needed to be destroyed stating, "It's not contain. It's exactly what the president said: degrade and destroy." He then went on to explain the perception that the administration did not have a plan for dealing with ISIS, claiming, "We can't take a chance ... on saying, well, let's technically define this, is it a real threat today or tomorrow, or is it going to be in six months. That's the way the threats don't work in little, neat boxes and emanate on our time frame. They emanate on their time frame."

September 10, 2014: President Obama addressed the nation, setting forth a strategy for dealing with ISIS, which included the proliferation of air strikes to Syria. He stated, "I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency: if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven." He also stated that ISIS was "not Islamic," claiming "no religion condones killing innocent victims."

September 11, 2014: Secretary Kerry, speaking about President Obama's plans to deal with ISIS, noted that the U.S. was not getting involved in a war, stating, "What we are doing is engaging in a very significant counterterrorism operation. It's going to go on for some period of time. If somebody wants to think about it as being a war with ISIL, they can do so, but the fact is it's a major counterterrorism operation that will have many different moving parts."

September 13, 2014: President Obama issued a statement regarding the death of British citizen David Haines at the hands of ISIS, claiming, "The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve. We will work with the United Kingdom and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world."

September 14, 2014: White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough claimed ISIS "stands for nothing" during an interview following the beheading of British citizen David Haines. He also defended President Obama's plan to work with coalition forces, stating, "It’s going to be Iraqi and other boots on the ground that are bringing this fight to ISIL."

Former CIA Director Michael Hayden claimed up to 5,000 Americans could be in Iraq and Syria by the end of 2014, but acknowledged they would be support personnel, not foot soldiers. He explained, "I think we will at some point. It might be through covert action rather than more overt activity,” he said. “I actually think we will end up with small American special operations forces active within this broad theater in Syria and Iraq."

September 15, 2014: White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest commented on the administration's push to get Congress to push through the stopgap funding bill that would provide money to train Syrian rebel forces, stating, "We’ve seen public statements from Democrats and Republicans in senior positions both in the House and the Senate indicate that they support giving the administration the necessary authority to ramp up our assistance to the Syrian opposition by training and equipping them. So we’re gratified by that show of bipartisan public support for this urgent priority."

September 17, 2014: President Obama spoke at an Air Force base earlier in the day, promising those in attendance, "I will not commit you, and the rest of our Armed Forces, to fighting another ground war in Iraq."

President Obama addressed the nation to explain that it is not only the U.S. involved in the conflict.

September 20, 2014: President Obama explained his vision of America's role in the global coalition, stating, "I won’t commit our troops to fighting another ground war in Iraq, or in Syria. It’s more effective to use our capabilities to help partners on the ground secure their own country’s futures. We will use our air power. We will train and equip our partners. We will advise and we will assist. And we’ll lead a broad coalition of nations who have a stake in this fight."

September 21, 2014: Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power defended the legality of the strikes against Syria, stating, "Consistent with the U.N. charter, we [think] – it would depend on the facts and circumstances of any particular strike in Syria – that we have the legal basis we need."

September 23, 2014: A Defense Department official explained the bombing campaign that began in Syria, stating, "Last night's strikes are the beginning of a credible and sustainable persistent campaign to degrade and ultimately destroy. I would think of it in terms of years." The official also discussed how ISIS was expected to react, suggesting, "We've seen that now, as a result of the air campaign thus far in Iraq. They are a learning organization, and they will adapt to what we've done ... and seek to address their shortfalls and gaps against our air campaign in the coming weeks."

September 26, 2014: Secretary Kerry argued that the foreign ISIS fighters posed a threat, not only in Iraq and Syria, but to the rest of the world as well, stating, "These foreigners, including many from the United States, pose an immediate danger on the battlefield and a longer-term threat if they are allowed to return to their home countries. With American leadership, the world is responding with a unity that shows these criminals that we will not allow them to divide us or force their nihilistic vision on helpless people, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or nationality."

Republican reactions

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

June 12, 2014: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was disappointed in the lack of immediate action by the administration and suggested, "Everybody in his national security team, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ought to be replaced. It’s a colossal failure of American security policy."

June 13, 2014: Sens. McCain, Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bob Corker (R-TN) called for air strikes of ISIS with Graham stating, "Our most immediate priority must be to reverse the advance of a terrorist force that is more radical, violent, and ambitious than Al-Qaeda. We see no way to achieve this goal without U.S. air strikes."

June 15, 2014: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) claimed on Fox News that thousands of Americans and westerners had joined ISIS and they could have "the capability to tap people with Western passports to send them back to Europe and the United States for terrorist activity."

June 18, 2014: Prior to a meeting with House and Senate leadership and President Obama, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) stated his desire to learn the administration's overall strategy for the Iraqi conflict, insisting, "What I’m hoping to hear from the president today is the broader strategy for how we help keep the freedom we paid dearly for the people of Iraq. It’s more than one step here. I’m looking for the overall strategy."

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

July 8, 2014: After meeting with the Defense Secretary Hagel and the Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, Sen. McCain again voiced his frustration about the lack of a plan of how to ease tensions in Iraq. McCain stated, "There isn’t a strategy for countering the largest enclave for terrorism in history on the Iraq-Syria border. They will be planning attacks on the United States. So we should be taking actions to remove that threat."

August 9, 2014: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that President Barack Obama must seek congressional authorization if the airstrikes are to continue against ISIS forces in Iraq. Cruz said, "I believe initiating new military hostilities in a sustained basis in Iraq obligates the president to go back to Congress and to make the case and to seek congressional authorization. I hope that if he intends to continue this that he does that." Cruz has been largely supportive of the bombings and humanitarian aid, however. He stated, "I am glad that President Obama is finally beginning to take the threat of ISIS seriously."

August 10, 2014: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) criticized the administration's handling of foreign policy, claiming there was a "vacuum of American leadership throughout the Middle East." He argued for increased air strikes, including in Syria and providing equipment and training to the Iraqi military, Kurds and Free Syrian Army. He disagreed with the administration's strategy, suggesting, "Launching three strikes around a place where horrible humanitarian crisis is taking place, meanwhile [the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)] continues to make gains everywhere, yes is clearly very, very ineffective, to say the least."

August 12, 2014: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) came forward with his thoughts on the air strikes in Iraq, pointing out, "I have mixed feelings about it,” the senator said Monday evening of the recent strikes against ISIL targets. “I’m not saying I’m completely opposed to helping with arms or maybe even bombing, but I am concerned that ISIS is big and powerful because we protected them in Syria for a year. Do you know who also hates ISIS and who is bombing them? Assad, the Syrian government."

August 13, 2014: Sen. Paul again spoke out in regard to U.S. foreign policy in Iraq suggesting the president needed to receive approval from Congress before sending troops back to Iraq, stating, "When he ran for office, he said no president should unilaterally go to war without the approval of Congress unless we're in imminent danger. So really I'd like President Obama to go back and meet candidate Obama and see if they can come to an agreement." He did, however, show support for the humanitarian efforts and air strikes of ISIS locations.

August 17, 2014: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) claimed al-Qaeda and ISIS were competing to become the "premier terrorist organization," stating, "Before 9/11, there were single-level threat streams coming to the United States. So, pretty serious. Obviously they got in and conducted the attacks on 9/11. Now you have multiple organizations, all Al Qaeda minded, trying to accomplish the same thing." He continued, suggesting, "You're not going to solve the [ISIS] problem in Iraq without dealing with the Syria problem," he said. "We should absolutely play a role there."

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) urged more significant action in Iraq, arguing, "We need to defeat them. We need to be highly concerned about this. This threat is a gathering storm. It’s not going away." He called for the gathering of NATO forces in order to handle the threat of ISIS.

August 18, 2014: Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced their support for the administration's order for air strikes to re-take the Mosul Dam, stating, "We applaud President Obama's decision to step up U.S. air strikes in support of Kurdish and Arab Iraqi forces who are fighting to retake the Mosul Dam."

August 20, 2014: Rep. Rogers criticized President Obama's continuing his vacation following the Foley execution, citing British Prime Minister David Cameron's early return from his vacation, "The optics of being on vacation and not coming away from that vacation, I just think are bad. That is why I think [Cameron] is going back. He is going to show he is the prime minister and he is taking this matter seriously, and he is on the job making the decisions that you need to make to keep Britain safe."

August 21, 2014: Sen. John McCain disagreed with the timing of the administration's announcement that a rescue mission had been attempted to save Foley and three other American hostages in the summer of 2014, claiming, "I don’t really like to impugn people’s motives all the time, but remember after we got Bin Laden all that stuff was leaked about it that was totally unnecessary and even compromised some of our capabilities. This is sort of the same thing. They see the negative, the disapproval of the American people of the handling of this situation, so one can’t help but assume that this is sort of to try and help their PR that they tried to rescue the hostages." A National Security Council spokesperson disputed McCain's claim, stating, "We only went public today when it was clear a number of media outlets were preparing to report on the operation and that we would have no choice but to acknowledge it."

Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) argued that the release of information regarding the United States' secret mission attempting to free captives in Syria was "unwise," explaining, "Successful or not, such operations are incredibly sensitive, even after they have concluded. Disclosure of these missions puts our troops at risk, reduces the likelihood that future missions will succeed, and risks the lives of hostages and informants alike."

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) said ISIS was "rapidly developing a method of blowing up a major U.S. city and people just can’t believe that’s happening," before urging the president to come up with a plan of action before more American lives were taken.

Appearing in Washington, D.C., Texas Governor Rick Perry expressed his concern that ISIS militants could be crossing the United States-Mexico border and infiltrating the United States, stating, "There's the obvious great concern that, because of the condition of the border from the standpoint of it not being secure, and us not knowing who is penetrating across, that individuals from ISIS or other terrorist states could be [crossing]. There's a very real possibility that they may have already used that [strategy]."

August 24, 2014: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) acknowledged ISIS' strength when he spoke about the power the group had, stating, "It's about time now to assume the worst about these guys rather than underestimating them — they're not the JV team anymore. They're the most prominent terrorist organization in the world, but they're not the only one. They're in competition with the other jihadist groups, and the gold medal will be awarded to the group that can hit America." He added that ISIS needed to be defeated in their own area, before being able to get into the United States, claiming, "We have to begin with the presumption that they could be such a threat. … But to jump from what they’ve done, which is horrific, the murder of Mr. Foley, to the assumption that they’re going to be an immediate and, within days, threat to us here in our homeland, I think you don’t jump to that assumption, but you don’t dismiss it."

Sen. John McCain used an earthquake on August 23, 2014, to criticize the administration's response to ISIS, claiming, "The president has to understand that America must lead and, when American hasn’t, a lot of bad things happen. This is not like the earthquake in San Francisco. All of this could have been avoided, like leaving a residual behind force in Iraq, and obviously the challenge is now much greater than it would have been." When asked if he felt Obama would launch a full attack on ISIS, McCain replied, "I do not know. But I don’t think his advisers would be that far out front if they didn’t have some confidence."

Rep. Mac Thornberry expressed his worry of members of ISIS reaching the United States using western passports, stating, "The biggest fear is that there are 10,000 to 12,000 foreign fighters that have joined ISIS and various estimates but many of them have Western passports. They're either American or they're Western European passports. So they can come here to the United States homeland without a visa. And they can bring ... what they've learned about bomb-making and about assassinations with them here at home."

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) argued that the president's orders of airstrikes were insufficient, claiming that a "containment strategy is not going to cut it." She stated, "We need an Iraqi government that’s inclusive,” she said. “We also need Muslim leaders to condemn ISIS, to say ISIS has to go."

Rep. Mike Rogers responded to the beheading of photojournalist James Foley, arguing that the United States was not safe due to the amount of time ISIS had been operating without major international interference. He argued, "One of the problems is it’s going unabated for nearly two years, and that draws people from Britain, across Europe, even the United States to go and join the fight. They see that as a winning ideology, a winning strategy and they want to be apart of it, and that’s what makes it so dangerous. They are one plane ticket away from U.S. shores and that’s why we’re so concerned about it." He explained the risk of the visa waiver program, run by the U.S. Department of State, stating, "We know the [Obama administration’s] number 2,000 ... with western passports is low,” he said. “Intelligence has a very different number and it’s much higher than that."

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) questioned what the administration's plan was to defeat ISIS, stating, "What I want to hear from our commander-in-chief is that he has a strategy to finish ISIS off. To defeat ISIS. If we don't deal with this threat now thoroughly and convincingly, it's going to come home to roost. I don't want to be an armchair general and tell you how this needs to be done, but I would reference the fact that Gen. Dempsey did say, to do this correctly, that Syria is going to have to be a part of this equation."

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) joined the growing number of representatives arguing that the administration's plan of airstrikes would eventually need to be approved by Congress, stating, "We believe that the administration should be in consultation with Congress, so far they have under the War Powers Act. This has been festering for the last year and now it is culminating with the killing, the beheading of an American journalist, which I think is a turning point."

August 26, 2014: Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) criticized the administration for a supposed lack of coordination in their fight against ISIS, arguing, "I think what the administration needs to do is come forward with a plan. They have no coordinated plan. We have no stated goals and objectives. The administration has inconsistent statements as to whether or not they see ISIS as a threat to the west or the United States."

August 29, 2014:

This Scott Brown campaign video attacked President Obama's foreign policies.

New Hampshire Senate candidate Scott Brown released a Youtube video attacking the administration's foreign policy, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Brown stated in the video, "There are so many issues on the table right now that are affecting our foreign policy, but we have one of the most inconsistent foreign policies right now. And our allies don't trust us. Our foes don't fear or respect us. We're in trouble." In a statement Brown released, he followed up on his comments in the video, "One of the greatest threats facing the homeland today is the mayhem that will happen when hundreds of American ISIS fighters return to the United States to spread their terror here. Their goal is to march down Pennsylvania Avenue and plant a flag at the White House, and mass killing is their means for achieving that goal."

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) stated that ISIS needed to be wiped out, not merely contained, by any actions take by the president, stating, "What we need to have is a strategy to finish them off, to defeat ISIS. Not contain them, not to react, but to fundamentally finish them off. If the president doesn’t step up on this issue, we’re gonna rue the day." He explained, "This isn’t Iraq War 2.0. This is far different that than, and we have to get on this fast while it’s containable. If we don’t rise to this moment, that sends the worst possible signal to tomorrow’s jihadists."

August 31, 2014: Rep. Mike Rogers urged the president to act on the threat of ISIS members getting into the U.S. to commit an act of terror, stating, "We have to be careful how we do it, not to restrict U.S. citizen travel. I do think that there is a way, through greater means of collecting evidence, to slow down these individuals." He argued further, "We have a law on the books, we should use it. And we should be aggressive when using it. I think if you can have a few of those prosecutions up front, people get less interested in traveling overseas." Further expanding on his opinions on the administration's foreign policy during an interview, Rogers claimed, "We find it consistent with his past policy and actions on foreign policy. It shows, and I think exemplifies, that his foreign policy is in free fall." He elaborated, "Three years ago, we had really good options in Syria and how to stop their pooling in the east and going into Iraq. Two years ago, we had better options, not great options. Today, our options are far more limited, far more dangerous, and will call for far more engagement."

September 3, 2014: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) demanded that the president come forward with a plan to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria, stating, "The president should come up with a strategy, present it to Congress, address the American people and tell us how he believes we should stop them. This is not in my view a manageable situation. They want to kill us." He explained further, "This is a serious threat to the United States, to our national security. And the president is the guy who needs to lay before Congress and the American people a strategy to deal with it."

Republican challenger to Sen. Mark Warner, Ed Gillespie, explained his support for Rep. Wolf's proposed legislation allowing the administration the power to go after ISIS, stating, "When President Obama said we don't have a strategy, Mark Warner called it 'a very unfortunate choice of words.' It's not a poor choice of words but an accurate statement of confusion when the American people deserve clarity. I hope the President comes forward with a strategy to defeat what top officials in his own administration call a national security threat to our country. I support Frank Wolf's efforts to seek congressional authorization when it comes to use of military force against ISIS."

September 4, 2014: Sen Rand Paul called for the U.S.-Mexico border problems be a top priority in order to prevent terrorists from coming into the United States in a Time op-ed. He wrote, "We must also secure our own borders and immigration policy from ISIS infiltration. Our border is porous, and the administration, rather than acting to protect it, instead ponders unconstitutional executive action, legalizing millions of illegal immigrants."

Rep. Mike Rogers called for action against ISIS, suggesting Congress give the administration the authority to follow ISIS wherever the trail leads, regardless of country. He stated, "We ought to give the president authority to go after ISIS where they find them. They don’t sense borders. We ought not to sense those borders. We shouldn’t handcuff ourselves in an effort to degrade and disable their ability to conduct operations." Rogers specifically touched on Syria, mentioning, "That’s where their headquarters is. This is where their logistics are. This is where a lot of their oil revenue comes from. This is where their military equipment, a lot of it came from until they got up into Mosul and cleaned out those arsenals."

September 7, 2014: Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger urged the president to act with force, stating, "When an American is murdered on television for the purpose of terrorizing Americans, there should be a response that you cannot – you would not analyze in terms of a normal response to provocation." He further commented, "Something has to crystallize out of this violence and it won’t happen without our leadership. We cannot do it all by ourselves, but we can make clear that certain tactics will be strongly resisted."

Former Governor of Utah and presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R) was highly critical of President Obama while on Fox News Sunday, claiming, "He is so out of touch with reality that he hasn't taken the kind of action necessary to prevent very bad things from happening." He went further, calling out the president's golfing while on vacation, suggesting, "I don't know if you can't see reality from the fairway."

September 10, 2014: Sen. Rand Paul commented on the president's claim that ISIS was not Islamic, stating, "Ultimately, civilized Islam will have to step up. We need to do everything we can to protect ourselves, I’m all in for saying we have to combat ISIS. So I think it is important not only for the American public but for the world and for the Islamic world to point out that this is not a true form of Islam, this is an abhorrent form." He continued, suggesting a better route for Obama to have gone would have been calling a joint session of Congress and asking for a vote. He stated, "It is unconstitutional what he’s doing."

New Hampshire candidate for United States Senate Scott Brown (R) once again took on Obama's policy decisions regarding both ISIS and the U.S.-Mexico border, claiming, "We need to secure the border, once and for all. We need to make sure that we have an immigration policy that works. But not one that rewards that illegality with incentives. And the president needs to really rethink very, very, seriously what he's about to do. And does it mean boots on the ground? Everything should be on the table. Of course, we don't want another world war. But to immediately take things off the table is wrong."

September 11, 2014: Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH), when asked his thoughts on the president's plan in dealing with ISIS, said, "We only have one commander in chief. He laid out his plan. I would never tell the enemy what I was willing to do, or unwilling to do. But he is the commander in chief, he made that decision. At this point in time, it’s important that we give the president what he’s asking for. And we gotta keep our eye on the ball. The issue here is about defeating a terrorist threat that is real and imminent." He did, however, continue insisting that even though the president said no boots would be on the ground, some troops would need to be sent in.

Former vice presidential candidate and governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, pushed for President Obama to "go big or go home," in a social media post, claiming, "War is hell. So go big or go home, Mr. President. Big means bold, confident, wise assurance from a trustworthy Commander-in-Chief that it shall be worth it. Charge in, strike hard, get out. Win." She followed the statement by questioning Obama's trustworthiness, stating, "He is so inconsistent in leading a failed agenda that it’s virtually impossible to put any hope in his new promises, because either his past statements shrugging off ISIS as just a ‘JV squad’ was all talk, or tonight’s new terminology is just all talk."

September 14, 2014: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said the idea of the United States not putting soldiers in Iraq and Syria to battle ISIS was a "fantasy." He continued, claiming, "I will not let this president suggest to the American people we can outsource our security and this is not about our safety."

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) acknowledged that troops needed to be on the ground in Syria and Iraq in order to defeat ISIS, but he encouraged the President to allow foreign countries to pledge soldiers. He stated, "I don’t know why we wouldn’t consider that option of all the Arab nations." He also acknowledged that more U.S. support personnel would need to be in the area, claiming, "I don’t think we want to put conventional forces in the middle of all of this. We will need advisers and special forces to guide airstrikes into Syria which we have not done to date."

September 15, 2014: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) argued that it would not be good policy to arm moderate Syrian rebel groups, explaining, "It’s a mistake to arm them. Most of the arms we’ve given to the so-called moderate rebels have wound up in the hands of ISIS because ISIS simply takes it from them, or it’s given to them, or we mistakenly actually give it to some of the radicals." He also pointed to rumors of the rebels signing cease-fire agreements with ISIS, arguing, "I would say one insightful piece of news from the last week is, some of the moderate rebels, so-called moderate rebels have now signed a ceasefire with ISIS. So really their enemy is really Assad, they don’t really care what ISIS does."

September 17, 2014: House majority whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) was happy with the bipartisan effort to pass the bill authorizing the arming and training of Syrian rebels, stating, "You saw Republicans and Democrats come together. The president asked for an authorization, and we approved that authorization with some accountability steps in place."

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) voted against the bill because she believed the president's plan would not be effective enough, arguing, "It seems to me we should take our best possible tool, which is the United States military, and with all resources at our fingertips, defeat the Islamic State as quickly as we possibly can."

September 18, 2014: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voted against the measure due to it not receiving the proper attention and debate as part of the continuing resolution, stating, "I think it’s inexcusable that the debate of whether we get involved in another country’s civil war — that we would vote on this in a spending bill."

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) took the opportunity to push the passage of the Keystone XL pipeline through Congress, insisting that lowering the United States' reliance on Middle Eastern oil could help the situation. He argued, "Let's talk about the national security implications for just a minute. We are working on a resolution today to deal with ISIL and we are getting oil from the Middle East instead of Canada, really? The administration wants to make an argument that we should continue to get oil from the Middle East instead of Canada."

September 20, 2014: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) dubbed himself and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) the "three Amigos" after the three voted against authorization to train Syrian rebels, explaining, "I actually respect them a great deal ‘cause both of them I think are honest about what they believe. They are unapologetically on the left and I respect that. I think there are far too many politicians in Washington in both parties who pretend to be something different back home than they are in Washington, and I think both Bernie and Elizabeth run honestly on their principles and beliefs."

September 22, 2014: Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John McCain (R-AZ) wrote an editorial for National Review in which they argued that the lack of prior action in Syria led to ISIS taking a strong hold in the region. They wrote, "Time after time, President Obama had the opportunity to act when U.S. engagement could have made a decisive difference, and in pulling back from America’s traditional leadership role, he left a vacuum for other, more dangerous actors to fill."

September 25, 2014: Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) pushed the Treasury Department for information on its plans to cut off funds to ISIS, stating, "Dismantling ISIS’ financial foundation is critical to our ability to protect our homeland and ultimately defeat ISIS."

Democratic reactions

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

June 12, 2014: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) encouraged the administration to begin talks with Congress, saying, "The way we ought to do this here in Washington is that the president should put a plan on the table and make a suggestion to Congress about what we should do. I would strongly recommend that the administration come to Congress very, very soon and put some options on the table about what we should be able to do."

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), chair of the Armed Services Committee, claimed the committee would not rule out any actions, but said they would not rush the process. He stated, "We shouldn’t knee jerk anything. The Iraqi government a few years back when they had a chance to sign an agreement that would keep some of our presence there, refused to do it. So we’ve got to be very careful and thoughtful before we do anything."

Sen. John Walsh

June 18, 2014: Sen. John Walsh (D-MT), the only Iraq war veteran in Senate, suggested the U.S. step back and let the Iraqis "secure and defend their own nation, to embrace their own self-determination is the only path to a true and everlasting peace in Iraq."

June 25, 2014: Sen. Kaine warned the president, prior the July 4th recess, against acting unilaterally in Iraq. He stated, "I do not believe that this President or any President has the ability, without Congressional approval, to initiate military action in Iraq or anywhere else, except in the case of an emergency posing an imminent threat to the U.S. or its citizens. And I also assert that the current crisis in Iraq, while serious and posing the possibility of a long-term threat to the United States, is not the kind of conflict where the President can or should act unilaterally. If the United States is to contemplate military action in Iraq, the President must seek Congressional authorization."

July 1, 2014: Sen. Walsh wrote a letter to the president asking for the limits on the administration's involvement in Iraq. His letter read, "A continued escalation of U.S. commitment in Iraq is troubling. The president has promised to prevent ‘mission creep.' But how many Americans will we deploy? How much money will we spend?"

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

July 2, 2014: In a Politico editorial, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) argued "ISIL has been successful in Iraq largely because of Sunni animosity toward the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. His government has not governed inclusively and has fueled sectarian distrust. Simply put, Maliki needs to go."

July 8, 2014: Former Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) claimed the United States broke a promise by not getting involved in the conflict and should take responsibility. Lieberman argued, "This is, today, a question of America’s word. At any moment, a push from Iran could turn [Iraqi] guns on these people and that would be a terrible stain on America’s honor and reputation. We’ve got to get them out of there as quickly as possible."

August 10, 2014: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) staked his claim, "The bottom line is this: There is so much we can do to help the Iraqis help themselves." He also shared his stance on the possibility of a military intervention in the conflict, stating, "I can tell you this: Escalating it is not in the cards."

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized President Obama's lack of support to Syrian rebels during the civil war, suggesting it led to ISIS taking a hold in the country. She stated, "The failure to help build up a credible fighting force of the people who were the originators of the protests against Assad—there were Islamists, there were secularists, there was everything in the middle—the failure to do that left a big vacuum, which the jihadists have now filled."

August 12, 2014: Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) spoke out in support of the president's actions through airstrikes, but warned the administration about "mission creep" without approval from Congress. Hoyer claimed, "All of us agree that boots on the ground are not in the offing, at this point in time, nor should they be … without further consultation and action by the Congress. But I think the president is acting properly, and I have urged the administration to act decisively in terms of protection of the Kurdish area of Iraq and giving the humanitarian aid to the people who were surrounded on that mountain." Likewise, Lee stated, "If they change their policy and decide differently, other than limited targeted strikes … they should come to Congress, we should have a debate, and we should [have] the vote."

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) had a different approach, urging additional spending to help train, supply and guide the Iraqi forces to victory, suggesting, "We have to allow them, by equipment, some training, some tactical advice, the capability to go after ISIS or ISIL and not only just keep them in a box but gradually reclaim the country of Iraq for the Iraqi people."

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) explained the president's thoughts on involvement in Syria before explaining his disagreement with the administration's plan, stating, "The president still feels very strongly that we are deluding ourselves if we think American intervention in Syria early on by assisting these rebels would have made a difference. He still believes that. I disagree, respectfully. They were not looking for U.S. troops, they were looking for help and the Syria Civil War started with the most noblest of causes."

August 13, 2014: Sen. Bernie Sanders called for action from the international community in fighting off ISIS advances in Iraq, suggesting, "The United States is not the only country on earth with an air force." He continued to argue that "the U.S. should not have to act alone militarily in this crisis."

August 17, 2014: Sen. Eliot Engel (D-NY) admitted that the threat of ISIS may require ground forces, suggesting, "Ultimately, we may have some boots on the ground there," but he claimed it would not be the same as the prior invasion of Iraq. He defended his thoughts, stating, "What’s going on in Iraq is horrific, and it warrants a response,” Engel said. “We cannot just put our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist."

August 21, 2014: Former congressional aide Brent Budowski wrote an op-ed for The Hill, suggesting that ISIS has stockpiled between $400 million and $2 billion, and they may be seeking a way to use the money to attack the United States. He argued, "The odds that ISIS can obtain nuclear, chemical, biological or other forms of mass destruction weapons are impossible to ascertain but in a world of vast illegal arms trafficking, with so many corrupt officials in nations possessing arsenals of destruction, the danger is real." He also posed a solution, "What is needed is a multinational special ops strike force made up of 10,000 troops from NATO nations and possibly Arab League nations. If I am wrong about this danger, America and Europe will be overprotected. If I am right, and we do not act, many Americans or Europeans will be dead."

House Intelligence Committee member Adam Schiff (D-CA) warned that the United States should not overreact to the beheading of American journalist James Foley. He explained, "We shouldn’t allow this horrible act to provoke us into doing things that are counterproductive. There’s nothing ISIS would like more than having us reintroduce ground troops into Iraq, for example." He did, however, support more air strikes and a proposal by the State Department for 300 more troops in Baghdad for security purposes.

August 24, 2014: Democratic Senate candidates Mark Pryor (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Alison Lundergan Grimes (D-TN) all showed support for President Obama's limited air strike campaign against ISIS. Landrieu stated, "I think that the president is taking the right course to use air power to hold off these militant groups and to try to re-establish order." Pryor agreed with air strikes in the short-term, but stated, "I don't think most Arkansans believe that we should be the world's policeman. We need to work with our allies. We need to try to help and provide a stable situation, and certainly look out for the humanitarian concerns, but at the end of the day, a lot of these countries, they just have to take responsibility for their own countries."

August 25, 2014: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) reiterated his desire for Congress to vote on the military action in the Middle East, explaining, "I will always support the president when he takes action to protect American service members and diplomats. But I am calling for the mission and objectives for this current significant military action against ISIL to be made clear to Congress, the American people, and our men and women in uniform. And Congress should vote up or down on it."

August 31, 2014: Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) criticized the perceived lack of a plan behind the air strikes on ISIS, suggesting, "We want to do whatever we need to do to stop. You don’t just come in and bomb." He further pushed the administration for stronger action, saying "if we’re going to go in, we’re not going to go in to drop some bombs."

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson spoke out in defense of Obama taking time to craft a strategy, stating, "We need better intelligence about their objectives, about their capabilities." He also claimed that the United States should not go against ISIS alone, requesting a "coalition" be formed.

September 1, 2014: Rep. John Larson (D-CT) spoke out about the lack of congressional action due to the August 2014 recess, stating, "Congress has been off for more than six weeks. Some have said, and I can’t disagree with them, that we’re AWOL." He continued, expressing his feelings that Congress ought to be in session during such an important time, "Congress has been off for more than six weeks,” the Connecticut Democrat said on MSNBC. “Some have said, and I can’t disagree with them, that we’re AWOL."

September 2, 2014: Rep. Engels came out against the lack of a more serious plan to stop ISIS following journalist Steven Sotloff's beheading, stating, "This is exactly the reason why we have to go after ISIS, why we cannot just let them wreak havoc. They’re killers, they’re brutal."

Upon announcing a proposal allowing the administration to use air strikes in Syria, Sen. Bill Nelson commented, "This will ensure there’s no question that the president has the legal authority he needs to use airstrikes in Syria. We must go after ISIS right away because the U.S. is the only one that can put together a coalition to stop this group that’s intent on barbaric cruelty."

September 3, 2014: Sen. Elizabeth Warren claimed ISIS needed to be the administration's top priority, explaining, "ISIS is growing in strength. It has money, it has organization, it has the capacity to inflict real damage. So when we think about a response we have to think about how to destroy that." She followed stating, "We need to be working now, full-speed ahead, with other countries, to destroy ISIS. That should be our No. 1 priority." When asked about the Americans who had joined ISIS, Warren said, "we're going to have to change in fundamental ways how we monitor our citizens when they go abroad."

September 4, 2014: Sen. Nelson claimed he would not remove sending soldiers into Iraq or Syria from his list of options, explaining, "When you do a major military operation, you leave opportunities for all kinds of contingencies. It is clearly the intention of the United States that we are not going to put a land army in Syria, but to achieve an objective, you have to give yourself the flexibility to achieve that goal that you’re trying." He added, "What we find in Syria, we’ll have to deal with at the time. If the objective is to cut off the head of the snake, the ISIS snake in Syria, then that’s what we’re going to have to do."

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) suggested the beheadings of American journalists were done in order to provoke an over-reactive military action from the United States. He said, "It's important for us to not go beyond what is warranted by the facts. It's very important for us to do what is necessary, but not more than is necessary, because they're hoping to be able to go to somebody and say, 'See, you've been aggrieved. Your family was a collateral damage. Your family was mistreated in some way. So then come join us.' That is one of the ways they try to recruit, and we should not help them in that endeavor."

September 11, 2014: Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN) supported an alternative of the Obama administration's plan to battle ISIS, suggesting, "I encourage them to employ the same intelligence resources – and the same selective, highly effective means they used to bring down Osama Bin Laden. Special operations of this kind do not involve U.S. troops on the ground, the killing of innocent people, or the re-involvement of the United States in another terribly destructive, expensive, open-ended conflict in that region."

Sen. Nelson spoke in support of the administration's plans, claiming, "The threat posed by Iraq grows with each passing day. And since Sept. 11, 2001, we cannot wait to protect ourselves against the threats of weapons of mass destruction, regimes hostile to the United States, and their links to terrorism." Nelson also voted in favor of invading Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. On whether or not he believed a timetable was necessary for the military operation, Nelson stated, "I don’t think there’s any timetable on what the president can do to protect Americans. All you need to do is see the videos of the beheading, and then you’re not worried about mission creep."

September 17, 2014: Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), a dissenting voter on the bill to arm and train Syrian rebels, argued that a debate on the extent of our involvement was going to me necessary, stating, "I think more and more members are beginning to understand that this is the beginning of what I think is going to be a very necessary and intense debate about what we should be doing there. I think it will be a lame-duck debate."

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) voted in opposition reasoning that the potential expanse of the conflict could be widespead, explaining, "I cannot support what could turn into a war on three fronts: fighting ISIS in Iraq, fighting ISIS in Syria and potentially [President Bashar] Assad in Syria."

September 18, 2014: Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) argued that the vote should not have been bundled with the continuing resolution, insisting, "This issue with what’s going on in Syria should be a separate issue, should be debated separately. I do not support the arming of rebels in Syria."

September 21, 2014: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) pointed to ISIS' beheading of children as reason enough to deal with the group on a "more comprehensive basis," explaining, "I have a picture of what I estimate to be a 6-year-old girl in a gingham party dress, white tights, a little red band around her wrist, Mary Janes [shoes], and she’s lying on the ground, and her head is gone. This could be an American child. It could be a European child. It could be a child anywhere. This is the mentality of the group that we are so concerned with. They have killed thousands; they are marching on; they have an army; they are well organized.

September 23, 2014: Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) spoke highly of the administration's efforts at building a coalition to fight ISIS, stating, "The presence of Arab nations in these airstrikes and President Obama's commitment that we will not use U.S. ground forces in combat are clear evidence that President Obama will not repeat the mistakes of the past. As we move forward, I expect consultations between the administration and Congress to continue."

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) continued his argument that if Congress did not approve of military actions in the region, the United States should withdraw, saying, "If we’re going to engage this mission we got to do it right or not do it. And if we don’t get Congress on board with it, we aren’t doing it right."

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) suggested more funding would be necessary to complete the task of stopping ISIS and insisted Arab nations reimburse the U.S. for costs, stating, "One of the things that sticks in my craw is when we went into Iraq — by the way, under false pretenses — we were also told that the revenues from the Iraqi oil were going to reimburse the United States for all of the treasure that we spent. The Arab nations have to shoulder the cost."

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) explained that she was "gravely concerned" about the United States taking on the lead role in the conflict without congressional approval, stating, "It is clear we are rapidly becoming more involved in another war in the Middle East. I have called and will continue to call for a full congressional debate and vote on any military action, as required by the Constitution."

September 26, 2014: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said it was "staggering" to hear that Speaker of the House John Boehner wished to wait until 2015 to debate the authorization of military force against ISIS. He argued, "I think that's a terrible abdication of our responsibility. And it will affect not only this war effort … but it will also send a signal to future administrations that they can go to war without the Congress."

International reactions

June 22, 2014: Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated his desire for the U.S. to stay out of Iraq, saying, "We strongly oppose the intervention of the U.S. and others in the domestic affairs of Iraq. The main dispute in Iraq is between those who want Iraq to join the U.S. camp and those who seek an independent Iraq. The U.S. aims to bring its own blind followers to power."

June 27, 2014: In an interview with CNN, Iraq's ambassador to the U.S., Lukman Faily, urged the United States to help the government stop ISIS, pleading, "At an extremely difficult time, we need immediate help to face an immediate threat. We don’t have the luxury of waiting."

July 6, 2014: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said of the U.S.' lack of involvement in Iraq, "I think the U.S. is absolutely right to leverage its support to say to Prime Minister Maliki that he has to change or the government has to change."

August 8, 2014: British Defense Minister Michael Fallon stated that England would not give their support through military action, but would help contribute to the humanitarian efforts, stating, "We welcome what America is doing in particular to bring humanitarian relief and to prevent any further suffering. But our focus is on assisting that humanitarian mission, using our military in support of the Americans in terms of refueling and surveillance, and add to it with food drops with our own."

August 13, 2014: Maliki issued an address rejecting the Iraqi president's move in ousting him as prime minister as an unconstitutional act and insisted a federal court hear the case before he would leave office. Maliki stated, "Why do we insist that this government continue and stay as is until a decision by the federal court is issued? It is a constitutional violation — a conspiracy planned from the inside or from out.

August 24, 2014: British Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Westmacott said British intelligence was working on identifying the man who beheaded U.S. photojournalist James Foley, stating, "I do know from my colleagues that we are close, but forgive me if I can't go much further than that at this point." He continued, explaining, "We have got people from lots and lots of Western democracies who, unfortunately, are misguided enough to go to that part of the region and take up a cause which is a betrayal of all our values."

August 25, 2014: A spokesperson for the Free Syrian Army suggested that air strikes would not be effective enough to stop ISIS, stating, "Airstrikes against ISIS inside Syria will not be helpful. Airstrikes will not get rid of ISIS. Airstrikes are like just tickling ISIS." He further argued, "So airstrikes will not be enough to get rid of these terrorists and at the same time, they might hit civilians. That’s the problem." The commander of the rebel group also commented on Foley's beheading, suggesting the United States took too long to react to ISIS. He stated, "The ISIS killing of James Foley and the threatening of the other American journalists reflects that America didn’t pay much attention to the threat and growth of ISIS inside Syria. We were very clear that we wanted to cooperate with the Americans. They didn’t listen. They paid a price."

August 29, 2014: Upon raising the threat level in Britain to "severe," Prime Minister David Cameron commented, "The root cause of this threat to our security is quite clear: it is a poisonous ideology of Islamist extremism that is condemned by all faiths and by all faith leaders." He said the change in threat level was due, in part, to the Foley beheading and the roughly 500 British citizens who went to Iraq and Syria, potentially to join ISIS.

September 13, 2014: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott committed helping defeat ISIS by providing aircraft and military advisers, stating, "The ISIL death cult threatens the people of Iraq, the region and the wider world."

September 14, 2014: Prime Minister Cameron presented a statement following ISIS' murder of British citizen David Haines, stating, "They are not Muslims, they are monsters. We are a peaceful people. We do not seek out confrontation, but we need to understand we cannot ignore this threat to our security and that to our allies." He continued, backing the United States' plan to destroy ISIS, "There is no option of keeping our heads down that would make us safe. … We have to confront this menace."

September 15, 2014: Iranian Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke out against the coalition after the Obama administration announced Iran would not be considered for the coalition, stating, "American officials' comments on forming an anti-Islamic State (alliance) are blank, hollow and self-serving, and contradictions in their behaviours and statements attest to this fact."

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stood behind a document signed by over 30 countries that promises to use "whatever means necessary" to eliminate ISIS. He stated, "It's a movement so dangerous that all those here today consider it necessary not just to make it retreat, but to make it disappear," Fabius said. "When you have a group of this kind there is no other approach than to defend oneself. That is what the international community has decided to do."

September 23, 2014: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the strikes in Syria were illegal because, unlike in Iraq, the United States did not get permission from the Syrian government to conduct the strikes.

Recent news

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See also

• Barack Obama
• Joe Biden
• U.S. Department of Defense
• Chuck Hagel
• U.S. Department of State
• John Kerry
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Jeh Johnson
• John Boehner (R-OH)
• John McCain (R-AZ)
• Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
• Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
• Tim Kaine (D-VA)
• John Walsh (D-MT)
• Joe Lieberman