Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Smith. I appreciate your leadership and your courtesy. In Iraq and Syria, we are facing an excruciating set of circumstances where there is no clear path forward. Our challenge in the face of the atrocities perpetrated by ISIS is to reduce the suffering of innocent citizens and our allies, and to protect our security at home. To do nothing is an option, but it is likely the worst choice. If ISIS were only a potential threat, I would feel differently. However, ISIS is a well-funded, heavily-armed militia whose strength is increasing and whose ranks have swollen to over 30,000 and counting by some estimates. They control an ever-expanding area across Iraq and Syria's border. To stand by, allowing ISIS to expand and strengthen its hold in Iraq and Syria, we will encourage accelerated deterioration of the security in the region that will become more difficult to address and will, ultimately, become a threat to the United States. We must also confront those in the region who say they oppose ISIS but have yet to take action. Those regional players have an even greater stake in this struggle than the United States. I think the ``least bad'' option is the McKeon amendment, which does not provide for an authorization for the use of military force. I didn't support wars in Iraq or the later surge in Afghanistan, and I certainly would not support legislation that would expose us to another open-ended broad commitment.…”