Political Quotes

“I thank my friend. Madam Speaker, last week I met with a constituent from Huntington Station on Long Island, and she said to me, ``Mr. Israel, war is never the answer.'' I would agree with that view that war is never the answer if I believed that ISIL agreed with that view, but they do not. I have thought a lot about my constituent's comments and I have thought a lot about this resolution. There are four things that we do know. First, ISIL is not just a threat; it is a savage threat. And what message do we send to potential beheaders around the world if we bury our head in the sand? Secondly, ISIL has filled a vacuum, and if we do not check that vacuum, it will spread, and instability and beheadings and savagery will spread across the Middle East and beyond. Number three, we cannot, nor should we, do this alone. I believe that the President has helped to organize an important international coalition to ensure that this is not on our shoulders and that we do not have boots on the ground. Finally, there should be no blank checks. We did that. We gave those blank checks from 2000 to 2008. No more blank checks. This resolution ensures accountability; it ensures transparency; it ensures reporting. Taken all together, Madam Speaker, this resolution is a restrained, responsible and appropriate response to the spread of ISIL, to beheading, to savagery in the Middle East and potentially around the world, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. McKEON.…”