State's delegation in D.C. backs plan

WASHINGTON -- Arkansas' U.S. House delegation supported the vote to train and arm Syrian rebels against Islamic State fighters who control parts of Syria and Iraq.

The 273-156 House vote, which added authority for the training to a resolution to continue funding the government at its current level until Dec. 11, came with mixed support from Democrats and Republicans. The House approved the government funding bill 319-108. All of Arkansas' delegation voted for it.

The U.S. Senate could bring up the funding resolution, which would prevent a government shutdown just weeks before the November election, as soon as today.

President Barack Obama, along with military and security officials, has lobbied members of the House and Senate to approve the measure, which allows the Secretary of Defense to train and equip Syrian fighters using existing funds. It also requires detailed reports on the president's plan, how the fighters are vetted and how the equipment is monitored.

Arkansas' four House members, all Republicans, said it is time for the United States to act against the threat of the Islamic State, which rose in prominence in midsummer as fighters took control of several Iraqi cities and killed two American journalists. Some lawmakers said the president's plan and his stated goal of keeping America out of another ground war in the Middle East do not go far enough.

Arkansas' U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, said the Islamic State has said it wants to attack the United States, and the nation can't wait until the group is able to do that.

"The goal is to eliminate these terrorists from the face of the earth and as many as possible," Griffin said. "We're trying to eliminate them in Baghdad so we don't deal with them in Boston. As long as that is our goal, that is something that we can be successful at."

Griffin said it was important that the president asked Congress to weigh in.

"Regardless of whether the president thinks he needs to come to Congress or not, the country is better served if he does," Griffin said. "Congress represents the people in a way that the executive doesn't, particularly those of us elected every two years, and we need to be involved."

Arkansas' U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, a retired Army National Guard colonel, said he supported the amendment because Congress shouldn't deny the president the tools he believes are necessary to keep the country safe, but Womack doesn't think Obama's plan goes far enough.

He said the president shouldn't have announced that the United States won't put military "boots on the ground."

"To do nothing is not an option, and I don't think the president's plan, so far, matches the gravity of the threat that we face," said Womack. "If the threat is as great as I think it is, evidenced by the fact that we've had a couple of beheadings and clearly stated objectives ... we need to be prepared to respond in whatever means necessary to ensure that this particular threat is removed, is destroyed."

Womack said the delegation recently met in his office to discuss how to vote on the amendment.

"These are among the most important votes we'll ever cast. These are votes that commit American resources to missions that are critical to the well being of not only our interests but the world, and they deserve to have the undivided attention of the members and to share each other's thoughts and ideas and military perspectives -- I think it was critical in terms of coming to the right answer," he said.

Arkansas' U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, a former Army captain who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said in a statement that Obama should have acted sooner.

"Regrettably, President Obama has ignored for years the threat of the Islamic State, dismissing them as 'the JV team' and saying he has no strategy to fight them, even as they behead Americans and crucify Christians. The Islamic State poses an immediate danger to the safety and security of Arkansans, and all Americans, and it's past time that we confronted and destroyed this mortal enemy," said Cotton, a Republican.

Arkansas' U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, a former U.S. Army bomb-disposal technician, said in a statement that the amendment includes benchmarks that the executive branch has to meet or the funding will end Dec. 11.

"Unlike al-Qaida, these terrorists are able to finance their operations directly through the proceeds from oil sales and illicit activities such as human trafficking and smuggling," said Crawford. "As commander in chief, the president is responsible for ensuring the safety of Americans, both at home and abroad, and in the coming days I hope he develops a broader strategy to ensure that the threats posed by ISIS are eliminated wherever they may exist."

A section on 09/18/2014