HOUSE RESPONDS TO ISIS THREAT Washington, DC (September 17, 2014) Today, Congressman Pearce released this statement after voting in favor of the McKeon Amendment to H J Res 124, authorizing a request for military response to the aggression of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Middle East. “During the Vietnam War, the United States had little direction and little strategy to achieve success, to complete the mission,” said Pearce. “For three years, I witnessed and experienced the effects of having a war led by Washington politicians, not our military commanders. As a solider it was extremely disheartening to have the ability to effect change in Vietnam to complete my mission, but not have the authority to do so. Soldiers should never be put in this position. We must provide them with the resources, authorizations, and clear strategy that will allow them to do what they have trained to do, and allow them the ability to fight, if we are going to put them in harm’s way.” “I supported the amendment today to address the very real problem that ISIS presents. There is no doubt in my mind that our military has the ability to face ISIS head on and defeat them,” Pearce continued. “We cannot wait and allow this terrorist organization to continue to amass power; we must begin addressing the threat immediately. However, I fear the President is not listening to his generals, and without caution we could make the same mistakes we did in Vietnam.” “Congressional action today is designed only as a first step, to allow our military to train opposition forces in Syria, while sending a message to the President that more work needs to be done to ensure success. The President has the responsibility to create and articulate to the American people a strategy that follows through on his word to defeat ISIS.” “Today’s Amendment, at the insistence of those, including me, who fear there is a current lack of strategy, only provides a short-term authorization with significant checks and balances from Congress about the authority and timeline to ensure the President is working with military commanders to provide our troops with the authority and strategy to complete the mission.” “As Americans, we stand together to support the military facing the terrorist organization ISIS head on. I have no doubt we can win, yet my time in Vietnam has taught me that without a definitive strategy to completing a mission, we are risking soldiers’ lives for nothing. I am committed to continuing to work with the President and our military to ensure that the troops deployed in this effort have the authority and support that they need to do what they do best--complete the mission.” NOTE: The McKeon Amendment passed by 273 by 156. This authorizes the military to begin training operations in Syria until Dec. 11 or a National Defense Authorization Act passes and is signed into law, allowing the operation to continue.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 23:45:12 +0000