After President Obama announced his plan to “destroy” the terrorist group Islamic State, commonly known as ISIS, in a live broadcast Wednesday evening, pundits and politicians were quick to react.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was quick to criticize Obama, who said that his administration has “secured bipartisan support for this approach here at home,” but that “I have the authority to address the threat from ISIL. But I believe we are strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together. So I welcome congressional support for this effort in order to show the world that Americans are united in confronting this danger.”
The Constitution is very clear. The power to declare war resides in Congress. If we are to go to war, Congress must approve. #RandResponds
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) September 11, 2014
We must defeat #ISIS, but in order to truly fix the problem, we must remember how we got here. Tune in to @FoxNews now. #RandResponds.
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) September 11, 2014
On NBC, chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel was critical of the plan, and skeptical of the Administration’s ability to eradicate ISIS.
Was this really the strategy for syria thats been three years in the making?
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) September 11, 2014
President keeps talking about partners and a broad coalition. I see broad verbal support, but few battle partners on the ground
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) September 11, 2014
The US can drone and weaken isis, but a decade has shown, the US is not qualified to mediate sunni shiite divide.
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) September 11, 2014
Wow, Richard Engel says Obama totally "off base" in claiming success and comparisons in Somalia and Yemen--"gross exaggeration."
— Greg Mitchell (@GregMitch) September 11, 2014
IntelCenter, a Washington D.C.-based intelligence contractor, criticised Obama’s statement that the strategy he intends to pursue in Syria will be “one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years.” In a statement issued Wednesday, IntelCenter pointed out the terrorist violence that is ongoing in both those nations.
IntelCenter: Yemen & Somalia Far from Success Model for Iraq & Syria - http://t.co/WRGKYbSwgG#IslamicState#terrorism#security
— IntelCenter (@IntelCenter1) September 10, 2014
“He has finally begun to make the case the nation has needed him to make for quite some time,” House Speaker John Boehner said in a reaction statement Wednesday evening, but added that “[a]n effective speech is not the same thing as an effective strategy,” and announced that House Republicans would meet Thursday to discuss “next steps.”
Destroying this terrorist threat requires decisive action http://t.co/fgwYaQ4LOX
— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) September 11, 2014
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), tweeted that ISIS “must be vanquished.”
ISIL now poses a direct threat to the American people and homeland and must be vanquished. #ISIS
— Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) September 10, 2014
There are risks associated with any decision, but today the biggest risk is to continue on the current path of doing nothing. #ISIS
— Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) September 10, 2014
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) issued a statement calling Obama a “real leader” following his speech, and noting that she is “so proud” of the coalition Obama has assembled to fight ISIS.
"Tonight, the President showed what a real leader is--a President who understands the threats we face and that America must not face those threats alone,” she said. "There is no way the international community can stand by in the face of the beheading, crucifixion, and stoning of innocent men, women, and children by a terrorist group that numbers in the tens of thousands and has the finances to continue their campaign of carnage until they are stopped.”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, tweeted her support of Obama’s strategy following his speech.
I support the president’s ISIL strategy. He is right to use his authority to go on the offense.
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) September 11, 2014
Meanwhile, progressive group Democracy for America expressed concern over the possibility that Obama’s plan will not require congressional approval.
Progressive group DFA says it's "deeply troubled" Obama's ISIL plan won't be voted on by Congress.
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) September 11, 2014