New York Times: Despite ISIS Horror, Congress Is Wary of U.S. Military Expansion
Mark Landler reports on Congressional reluctance to expand the U.S. mission in Iraq.
For weeks, Capitol Hill has tried to keep America’s military engagement in Iraq at arm’s length: Democrats and Republicans warily backed President Obama’s limited airstrikes against Sunni militants, but nobody — aside from Senator John McCain and a few fellow hawks — demonstrated an appetite for deeper involvement.
“Most Democrats and Republicans are extraordinarily wary of being sucked into a large occupation, both because it will kill a lot of Americans and because we saw in Iraq the last time that it didn’t work,” said Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Mr. Schiff was among those who expressed horror at Mr. Foley’s killing, saying, “Seldom is the descriptor ‘evil’ applied with perfect accuracy as it is with this monstrous group.”
Mr. Schiff said he was concerned that the White House had already broadened the mission beyond the limited purposes outlined by Mr. Obama two weeks ago — conducting airstrikes to support Iraqi forces in recapturing the Mosul Dam, for example.
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By: Mark Landler
Source: New York Times