[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14533]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               TERRORISM

  Mr. REID. 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.

                          ____________________