Spokane’s congressional delegation promises support to combat Islamic State

Washington’s two Democratic U.S. senators and the Republican congresswoman representing Eastern Washington promised Wednesday to give President Barack Obama the tools he needs to defeat the Islamic State.

In a prime-time speech on Wednesday, Obama outlined plans for defeating the Islamic State, commonly called ISIS or ISIL, which has taken over vast territory in Iraq and Syria.

“While I continue to ask the administration tough questions as this strategy is implemented, I am glad President Obama laid out an aggressive, comprehensive plan to fight ISIL across the region,” said Sen. Patty Murray in a prepared statement.

Although she said she supports Obama’s “efforts to build a broad coalition,” U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said, “Americans need more than just rhetoric.

“We need a vision,” McMorris Rodgers said in a prepared statement released after the speech. “We need a bold, comprehensive, long-term vision that shows our nation’s unwavering commitment to fight terrorism at home and abroad. A single speech will not eradicate the growing threat Islamic militants pose to America and our allies.”

Sen. Maria Cantwell said in a prepared statement that she supports Obama’s plan.

Murray, who voted against war in Iraq in 2003, promised to press the administration for “clarity of mission and goals.”

“I understand how important it is for us in Congress to think very carefully about the consequences of military engagement and to push the Administration to fight terrorists across the world in ways that truly keep our country safe,” Murray’s statement said.

From staff reports