Kathy Castor says she's "concerned" about arming Syrian rebels to counter ISIS, but says it's the best option going to stop the Islamic terrorists, of which there are presumed to be about 31,500 roaming in the Middle East."I am concerned about the capacity of Syrian rebels the Free Syrian Army," the Tampa-based Democratic Congresswoman told CL and other reporters Monday morning. "But the alternative is worse. The alternative is that we allow a safe haven [for ISIS] to grow and fester in the Middle East, and that will become a larger threat, and so I think it's appropriate that we develop this counter-terrorism strategy."
Castor's comments come as Washington lawmakers are quickly moving to pass a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. President Obama has asked Congress to attach a measure expanding his Syria authority to the continuing resolution, but some lawmakers want a separate vote.
Some members of Congress have said the president doesn't need a vote to commit to a new military campaign, but Castor says that "Congress has an absolute responsibility to authorize any type of military action." She said she was encouraged to hear that the administration say "a number of Arab nations" have signed on to conduct airstrikes along with the U.S. to target ISIS, though no names have been offered yet.
"It has to be an international effort," Castor stressed. "We've got to eradicate this evil, ISIS. They are despicable and it's not going to be an Iraq-type invasion. This is going to be a thoughtful, counter-terrorism operation, one where international partners are going to be very involved."
On the CBS show This Morning, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said it would be a "mistake" to arm vetted Syrian rebels, saying, "Most of the arms we’ve given to the so-called moderate rebels have wound up in the hands of ISIS, because ISIS simply takes it from them, or it’s given to them, or we mistakenly actually give it to some of the radicals."
Castor says it's critical that the Iraqi Army "stand up" to deal with ISIS, saying that Iraq has the most to lose if their country disintegrates. "They have got to stand up and fight for their country," she said, adding that she does believe that there will be Special Forces on the ground, but only Special Forces to assist the U.S.-led air campaign. But no, she doesn't believe there will be a need for the now-hackneyed phrase "boots on the ground."
"The American people don't want that," she says. "President Obama has said that's not what is intended, and the Congress I don't think is going to let that happen."
The president will be in Tampa beginning tomorrow night for a briefing with commanders at Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base on Wednesday on the military strategy for dealing with ISIS in Iraq and Syria.