Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin issued a statement Tuesday supporting Obama’s decision to launch airstrikes in Syria.
“I support President Obama’s decision to strike [Islamic State] targets within Syria,” Levin, a Democrat from Michigan, said. “[Islamic State] is a global threat and a threat to our national security.”
Levin said the coalition support from neighboring Arab countries of Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates is “historic,” and essential “to the long-term success,” of the mission to defeat the Islamic terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
“While Western military force can help combat the poisonous ideology of groups such as [the Islamic State], ultimately it is up to Muslim nations to resist and eliminate this poison,” Levin said.
Congressional lawmakers have largely remained quiet about the airstrikes Tuesday morning. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., issued a statement of support, but suggested Obama waited too long to start the mission.
“I have argued for months that President Obama has the authority to confront this threat to the United States wherever they seek refuge,” Rubio said.
