Rep. David Cicilline, Rhode Island Democrat, said Thursday that just because the Iraqis trapped on a mountain by a terrorist group don’t need to be rescued doesn’t mean the United States’ job in Iraq is done.
“It doesn’t answer the question about what is the long term policy objective as it relates to this conflict and what the united states is prepared to do or will do,” he said on MSNBC.
While it’s good news in the short term that American air strikes and aid drops have worked to remove Iraqis on Mount Sinjar from danger, in the long-term, the militant Islamic State isn’t defeated and still poses a national security threat to the U.S., Mr. Cicilline said.
“I strongly oppose having troops on the ground,” he said. “At the same time … this is a terrorist organization that is committed to harming us and the national security of the U.S. We have the obligation to defeat terrorism wherever we find it.”
But while the U.S. and other allies can help, much of the responsibility for that must fall to the Iraqi army, Mr. Cicilline said.
“We have done more than our fair share to bring stability to that region of the world,” he said.
• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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