Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), the co-chairman of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism Caucus argued that the beheading of American journalist James Foley was “just a preview” of what ISIS is capable.
“It’s very important to push back aggressively, and with a really determined focus, against ISIS. because they’re not just having great success on the ground in Iraq, but the beheading of Mr. Foley is one indication, and I’m afraid, just a preview, of what they would do to other Americans, and others around the world if they’re not aggressively confronted,” he said on Tuesday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” on MSNBC.
Casey also argued, “I think the steps that the president has taken today have been very prudent, making sure when we have an interest, in this case, pushing back on ISIS and their brutal efforts to not only take over Iraq, but also to do everything they can to have kind of one country between Iraq and Syria. I think the air strikes were appropriate, and I think the intel. and the targeting has been appropriate.”
He also warned of the threat of American citizens joining ISIS, stating “we have to pay attention, not just to what happens in Syria and Iraq, but have to pay attention to efforts here in the United States that lead to radicalization, and then an individual goes across the world and engages in terrorist acts around the world, sometimes, against Americans.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett