Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued this statement following President Obama’s announcement of an ISIS strategy:

“This terrorist group – born of al-Qaeda but more sophisticated – presents a grave threat to the United States and our allies.  While it’s hard to understand how anyone is attracted to its barbaric ideology, some are, including Americans, raising the threat.  Having beheaded two Americans, this vicious group needs to be rooted out, both in Iraq and Syria.  It is right to target ISIS from the air, while local Arab and Kurdish forces are trained and armed to battle on the ground, but Syria can’t be a sanctuary from U.S. and allied air strikes.  Air strikes and local training and equipping are the right tools, as U.S. infantry shouldn’t be sent into this fight.  Tonight was a start, but it remains to be seen whether the Administration, after much delay and denial, develops and executes the sustained commitment needed to destroy ISIS by building a powerful coalition against these brutal jihadists.”  

Note: Next week, Chairman Royce will convene a hearing at which Secretary of State John Kerry will testify about the President’s strategy to defeat ISIS.

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