Senate Dem calls for stronger military action against ISIS

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, on Saturday criticized the U.S. strategy against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as insufficient, following a series of terrorist attacks in Paris.

"I strongly believe we need to further increase our efforts in Syria and Iraq directly and expand our support to partner nations in other countries where ISIL is operating," Feinstein said, using a different acronym for ISIS.

"It has become clear that limited air strikes and support for Iraqi forces and the Syrian opposition are not sufficient to protect our country and our allies," she said in a statement.
"This is a war that affects us all, and it's time we take real action to confront these monsters who target innocent civilians," she added.


The U.S.-led military coalition and local Iraqi and Syrian forces have made gains against ISIS in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks, but the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed at least 120 on Friday show the threat from ISIS outside the region could be growing.


“In the last two weeks, ISIL has claimed responsibility for attacks in Paris and Beirut and the bombing of a Russian airliner. The fight is quickly spreading outside Iraq and Syria, and that’s why we must take the battle to them," Feinstein said.


Feinstein's comments are among the first in Congress to call for greater military action against ISIS.


Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Saturday also called for the U.S. to do more, calling the attacks a "wake up call" for America and said there should be "no doubt" ISIS poses a direct threat to the U.S.


“The horrific attacks in Paris must be a wake-up call for America and our government. Just weeks ago we saw a civilian airliner likely blown up by ISIL in Egypt, killing all aboard.
Now we see the coordinated attacks in Paris that have killed more than 100 innocent people.
There should be no doubt that ISIL poses a direct threat to the United States," he said.


“This threat has been allowed to grow and gather strength in Iraq and Syria for nearly five years. As a result, ISIL and its adherents are expanding across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia and radicalizing aspiring terrorists in Europe and America," he added.

"This growing threat is a failure of U.S. foreign policy, and if the Administration does not get more serious about combatting it, our nation and our people will pay a grave price.”