Although he has no Democratic challenger, he did not have a clear victory against Art Moore, a Republican challenger in the primary, so both go as candidates on November 4th. Rep. Tpm McClintock is one of the most intelligent, most principled Congressmen in America. He deserves re-election…..rsk http://www.tommcclintock.com/
Contrary to the President’s assertions last week, the Islamic State IS Islamic and it IS a state – or at least has all the attributes of a state. It is precisely this combination that makes it so dangerous: a messianic and clearly stated intention to wage jihad on American soil and the resources and equipment to do so.
In response to this danger, the President proposes that the United States wage a continuing air war against the Islamic State, but to avoid any commitment of ground forces. Instead, he seeks to use vetted elements of the Free Syrian Army as the American proxy force and proposes to arm and train them for that purpose.
This raises two major concerns.
First, many elements of the Free Syrian Army have a long history of collaborating with the Islamic State. Its principal mission is to destroy the Syrian government which, though utterly despotic, is currently fighting against the Islamic State. We court a very real risk that this equipment will either be turned against Syria as it fights the I.S. or turned over to the I.S. as elements of the Iraqi Security Forces recently did.
Second, committing insufficient force in any conflict is self-defeating, and air strikes alone cannot win a war. For 13 years, the brave young Americans who stepped forward to defend our nation after 9/11 have found themselves hamstrung by political correctness on the battlefield; perilously commingled with hostile forces; endangered by rules of engagement that undermine their ability to defend themselves and denied the full resources and commitment of our country.
We are in precarious times with an administration that either cannot or will not learn from the mistakes of the past. Until we are prepared to put the full might and resources of our nation behind a war against the Islamic State, we can at least act to contain I.S. advances, protect our people, and restore the martial strength and national will that we will certainly need in the years ahead.
First, I believe the President is correct to order selected airstrikes in tactical support of resistance forces where they are actively engaged against the I.S. Where we can turn the tide of battle in these engagements, we must. And the immediate destruction of oil fields under I.S. control is vital to reduce the resources it is currently converting to cash.