Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, said he hopes a video released by the Islamic State purporting to show the burning execution of a Jordanian pilot will galvanize the fight against the terrorist group, but he acknowledged that the group is winning right now.
“Hopefully this video will galvanize not only the United States leadership but the Arab world,” he said on CNN’s “New Day.”
Jordan has already retaliated against the death of Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh by hanging at least two convicted terrorists.
King Abdullah indicated to the Armed Services committee that he needs weapons to fight IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and Congress will be working “immediately” trying to achieve that for him, said Mr. McCain, who chairs the committee.
“Overall, there’s still no strategy from this administration as to how to combat ISIS,” he said.
Mr. McCain said that he, along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, and others have been advocating for years for things like a no-fly zone in Syria, to arm and equip the Kurdish peshmerga forces, and “more American boots on the ground.”
“Not massive American troops, but foreign air controllers, intelligence special forces and others that have been recommended by military experts now for a long period of time, and develop a long-term strategy and recognize that this is [going to] be a long-time struggle,” he said.
“I think there’s already significant appetite in Congress — I just see no change in the White House,” he continued. “Ranging from failure to give the Ukrainians weapons to defend themselves to the failure to develop a strategy — have no doubt, ISIS is winning. We’re neither degrading nor destroying ISIS. We have no strategy for doing so.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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