[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ISIS IS RESURGING IN THE PHILIPPINES

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ISIS fighters are regrouping in the 
Philippines. It was only a year ago that Philippine forces, with help 
from the U.S. military, retook the city of Marawi after a bloody five-
month siege. Reports now suggest that fresh ISIS foreign fighters have 
arrived in the area and are preparing to unleash a new wave of terror. 
America must be prepared to blunt their resurgence.
  It should surprise no one, that after the fall of ISIS's so-called 
caliphate in Syria and Iraq, that the terror group would disperse its 
fighters and attempt to build a new caliphate somewhere else. Two 
decades of fighting jihadists has shown they are an adaptive and 
relentless foe. ISIS itself was defeated by U.S. forces in Iraq almost 
a decade ago but because of Obama's naive withdrawal, was able to rally 
new recruits and exploit instability in the Middle East. But we have 
learned our lessons and will not stand by as ISIS attempts another 
revival.
  We are in a long war with ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other extremists. From 
Mali to Mindanao, America has stood ready to confront jihadism much as 
we stood ready to counter communism around the globe during the Cold 
War. The Philippines is a strategic ally of the United States and we 
will not abandon our commitments. We must see to it that the 
Philippines have what they need to crush ISIS's attempted comeback and 
ensure its lasting defeat.
  ISIS's attempts to regroup will not end in the Philippines. Our 
successes against ISIS remain fragile and, without continued vigilance, 
can be undone. Our allies must know that the U.S. is prepared to stand 
with them but also note that it is their fight as well. It is their 
security that is most threatened by ISIS's crusade of terror. We are in 
this fight together until the ideology that drives Islamic extremism 
relegated to history.
  And that's just the way it is.

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