Political Quotes

“I rise in opposition to this resolution. First, this resolution obscures the facts and alleges that American troops are involved in hostilities in Syria. American troops have remained in Syria across multiple administrations to ensure the lasting defeat of the Islamic State. Our presence is authorized under the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force, the legal cornerstone of our counterterrorism operations around the world. The Islamic State remains a threat to Americans and our partners. According to the State Department's latest reports on terrorism, the Islamic State ``remains resilient and determined to attack.'' Senator Paul no doubt recalls the Islamic State's attacks across the region--the depraved videos of slaves, beheadings, the Yazidi genocide, and the attacks against civilians in France and into the heart of Europe. As recently as last year, we saw the Islamic State conduct a prison break in northern Syria and witnessed an uptick in attacks. Despite the fact that we shattered their caliphate, the group is down, but not out. Our troop presence is a critical element to maintaining pressure on the Islamic State and keeping Americans safe. Senator Paul's resolution points to the numerous Iranian-sponsored attacks against our troops in Iraq and Syria. I share these concerns and urge the administration to do more to establish deterrence against Iran.…”