Declaring war on ISIL: Sen. Joni Ernst
By Senator Joni Ernst
Over the weekend, the United States’ oldest ally was attacked by an enemy we all know too well. My heart breaks for France and her people during this time of need, as I am reminded of the horrific events that struck our own homeland on Sept. 11, 2001.
Before 9/11, Osama bin Laden told the world al-Qaeda was at war with America. Every American in hindsight believes we should have prepared ourselves more effectively to deal with the threat posed by al-Qaeda to prevent 9/11. We cannot change the past, but we must learn from it. When Americans said “Never Again” after 9/11, we meant it.
For well over a year, the Islamic State has declared war on America and threatened attacks against our nation and our people. Just this week, ISIL again pledged to attack the U.S. In the face of a terrorist threat, President Obama owes it to the American people to be honest about the effort necessary to defeat ISIL, and to match that honest assessment with a real strategy to accomplish the goal.
I am deeply concerned for the safety of our people brought by a lack of a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIL. So far, U.S. efforts have not made significant gains to defeat, let alone “contain,” a force that wishes to kill innocent Americans. Instead, since the start of the U.S. effort against ISIL, these terrorists have continued to thrive and expand their operations to Europe, Libya, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe. The unfortunate truth is that a limited campaign may continue to make the world a more dangerous place by emboldening ISIL and enhancing their ability to recruit fighters and consolidate territory.
The Obama administration cannot continue to use the excuse of the fight against ISIL being a “long war” when actual events expose a failed strategy and a need to change course. ISIL holds a territory the size of Indiana, and they continue to display advanced capabilities that will likely lead to more attacks, like those in Paris, elsewhere in the West.
This week, CIA Director John Brennan said, the Paris attack was not a “one-off event.” Under this dark assessment, we cannot just wait around for ISIL to attack our nation before we develop a comprehensive strategy. We must take bold action to disrupt and prevent attacks likely already being planned by these murderers of innocent men, women and children.
As someone who served our nation at war, I believe we must be honest with the American people about what is necessary to defeat a terrorist organization with global reach. After our time in Iraq and Afghanistan, no one wants more war, and no one detests war and understands the sacrifices given in war more than those of us who have served recently in Iraq or Afghanistan. Despite this, we are still at war, and our enemy is committed to his cause despite our longing for peace.
The United States cannot defeat ISIL alone. What is necessary to defeat them is to ensure our military has the resources it needs to defend our nation, enhance our intelligence capabilities at home and abroad and to create a real U.S.-led coalition force, in the air and on the ground, to defeat ISIL in Iraq and Syria. This combined air and ground effort by the U.S., NATO, Arab nations and local Arab and Kurdish partners can defeat ISIL and work towards a political solution where our local partners can rebuild the day after.
This week, France has announced we are “at war” with ISIL — and ISIL has again announced they are at war with the US. It is about time the Obama Administration wakes up to this fact.
20 thoughts on “Ernst says ISIL declared war on U.S. Should America declare war on them?”
joni will make them sqeal with laughter
Translate please……So what did you say Joni??
Are you saying that the US should commit to sending ground forces in large numbers into battle?
Or are you spouting gibberish similar to ALL other political critics of the administration, and not providing a definitive alternative?
Whenever one of the GOP reps are asked what they would do to enact an effective policy, the answer seems to echo what is being done at present.– No US boots on the ground in volume, strive to form a coalition with the Arab nations, continue strategic bomb attacks, increase security to protect the homeland, etc, etc, etc.
Seriously; what should be done?
Declare war?
Against who or what?
Where is this war going to take place?
Where’s the starting point and what rules are to be followed, if any?
The Geneva Convention?
Who and where is ISIS?
Where’s their home base and what’s the GOP plan of attack?
Or is this the same tired rhetoric that blames Obama for all inferred negatives in general, with unhidden hatred as a common denominator?
What’s the point of this article other than to repeat that “something” must be done?
You should really check the news. Even Dianne Feinstein say we are at war with ISIS and need to go after them. Now it turns out that Obumer has been toning down the intelligence reports on how bad it really is over there. He has been pressuring the intelligence reporters to change their reports to make it look like it is not as serious. That means they will finally impeach the worse president this country has ever had.
Stick to Ernst’ comments and put aside your hatred of the President for a moment there LVS.
Now I am all for the destruction of ISIS, but how?
I don’t have the answer.
Since you seem to think that you have all the answers, and with your vast military background, what do you think should be done?
All out war?
Perhaps the only way that ISIS will be defeated is with soldiers on the ground and an all out military commitment with “no holds barred”.
That will be extremely costly & I am not talking about money.
That will mean a heck of a lot of US military people coming home in body bags and a heck of a lot of civilian casualties.
If that is route that you think to go, you need to push your Republicans, since only Congress can declare war & they control congress.
Just you be sure to be there at Dover AFB when all the young US servicemen start coming back in the flag draped coffins.
If I was president i would listen to my generals, wither we were supposed to be in iraq or not is irrelevant, we were there and when obama says we are pulling all the troops out but all his generals and experts told him not to because it would create a vacuum there that more dangerous people will fill. Not only that but he gave the date we would pull out, to me that was all for show to make him look good but it backfired and bit him and every body else in the ass. now the only thing that can be done is boots on the ground. let the 82nd loose and within a month ISIS will be no more.
@Samuel-I have always supported our military and have many young friends that served in Iraq and Afganistan. I would never want to see any soldier hurt or killed. However, they know when they sign up that it is possible they will be in a conflict somewhere. I would much rather that we fought in the enemy’s country rather than ours. Pay no attention to the Racist. He is a imbecile and a idiot who never comment on anything except to troll around being stupid with his dumb a## friend Anonymous.
@Samuel-I really feel that we will either fight them over there or over here. Soldiers are trained and paid to fight. Do you really want them in our streets or shopping centers. They have already shown they have the ability to come here. I believe anyone who thinks it can’t can’t happen here is sadly mistaken.
http://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0814_Inherent-Resolve
All Joni is doing is making a case for increased military spending. She knows about Operation Inherent Response and she knows that we have diminished their territory. Pretty soon she will sponsor a bill to increase military spending by 50 billion trillion dollars.
Bread Bags
You just can’t stand it because she beat the liberal that ran against her. How does it feel to be totally irrevelant?
I know the article was written by someone else but if she did call them isil then I have lost respect for her.
@David-Probably written by a liberal reporter. They are scared to death to call ISIS by their real name.
Doesn’t look like a reporter to me, if you read the top of the article it says the following :
Declaring war on ISIL: Sen. Joni Ernst
By Senator Joni Ernst
So then this must mean it is actually Ernest that is scared to call them by their actual name. I am with David, I have Lost respect for her.
I need some bread bags under my shoes to keep my feet safe from all of LVS’s bullshit.
why do you call it BS, she is in office and she is a republican so that means she beat the democratic candidate. You call it BS just because you don’t like LVS so anything he says you don’t like no matter what it is.
@David-what ever the Racist says is totally unimportant and means absolutely nothing to anyone. He is just a imbecile.
LVS to David. David to LVS. “I got your back”. Butt buddies perhaps?
Another totally infantile post by a village idiot.
Uh, Isis is actually an ancient Egyptian goddess.
Thank you for the additional information. Actually both the Ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures share a common connection to ISIS. Humanity is many ways is so rooted in the same heritage. Appreciate and uplift your comments as we debate semantics on this site as related to current events.