Slaughtered innocence in Iraq! Christian children are killed without mercy by ISIS, which leaves their bodies in the streets to be eaten by dogs and birds.
On September 11, 2104 Senator Harry Reid of Nevada asked for and was granted permission to address the United States Senate regarding the terrorist group called ISIS. ISIS stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
ISIS is a Sunni jihadist group in the Middle East.
In its self-proclaimed status as a caliphate, it claims religious authority over all Muslims across the world and aspires to bring most of the Muslim-inhabited regions of the world under its political control beginning with Iraq, Syria and other territories in the Levant region which include Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus and part of southern Turkey. The group has been causing havoc recently in Syria and Iraq culminating in the beheading death of Jim Foley a reporter, which absolutely horrified Americans. As a result President Obama declared war against the group on September 10, 2014 – without direct authorization or prior approval from the Congress which has the sole right under the US constitution to declare war under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives to the Executive Branch the command of the nation’s armed forces, while Article I, Section 8 gives to the Legislative Branch the power to decide when the United States goes to war.
Senator Reid comments are as follows:
“Mr. President, as I have indicated, 13 years since the evil attacks of September 11, terrorism continues to rear its ugly head throughout the world. As I speak, the terrorist group ISIS, like a scourge, is plaguing the Middle East. These radical Islamic terrorists are wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria, butchering the innocent and instituting brutal edicts.
ISIS is a murderous, fanatical organization. It is evil in nature. They must be stopped, and they will be stopped. We will degrade and destroy them.
The Presiding Officer is a general who led hundreds and hundreds of troops to battle in the Middle East. We must honor our troops as indicated in the prayer this morning by our Chaplain because they are going to be called as they are through the air, as President Obama said last night, to do something to degrade and, working with others, to get rid of this scourge.
Last night President Obama delivered a stirring speech to the Nation outlining his blueprint for eradicating this threat without repeating mistakes of the past. We all know the mistakes about which I speak. The President made it clear: We will not rush into another ground war in the Middle East and we will not go it alone to destroy this evil. Instead, America will lead a coalition that includes European and Arab nations in a targeted, strategic mission to destroy ISIS. American air strikes will be supported by local forces that are trained by the U.S. military advisers and others who will assume the duties of defending and protecting their communities and homes. It falls upon us, Congress and the American people, to rally behind the President on his decisive strategy.
There are no ground troops–I repeat–and that is the way it should be. I am confident we will put our political differences aside and work together to give this administration the tools it needs to meet ISIS head-on–not the least of which is the authority to equip and train Syrian troops to fight these very bad–I repeat–evil terrorists.
However, it is disturbing that at a time such as this there are some in Congress taking cheap political shots at the President. Now is the time for us to come together. When tested, Americans have always closed ranks and engaged our adversaries as one united Nation. A matter such as this is no place for political posturing–political positioning. This is time for the rhetoric of campaign commercials to go away. We must draw together as a nation.
When President Bush called upon Congress to do something about the terrible economic crisis that hit this country, we joined together, we joined together as Democrats, Republicans, and Independents and took this head-on. This is the situation now. We must draw together and support the President in eradicating the evil of ISIS, not only for our Nation but the world.”
Source: Congressional Record