WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin said during a speech on the floor of the Senate Wednesday the U.S. must defeat and destroy ISIS but “how we destroy them is what we must get right.”
Manchin said he would vote against any plan that includes arming and funding the Syrian rebels.
“I strongly believe that if our military arms and trains Syrian rebels we will be involving ourselves in a ground conflict that we cannot resolve where potentially everyone involved is our enemy,” the senator said.
Manchin said he’s asked a lot of questions about President Barack Obama’s plan to defeat ISIS and he’s also studied history.
“I would ask my colleagues to consider America’s history of intervention in the Middle East. It’s not been a successful one,” Manchin said. “Interventions have failed in Lebanon, Somalia, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan is on the brink of failure.”
Manchin repeated his support for airstrikes against ISIS along with humanitarian aid for the region and cutting terrorist funding sources. He also said he supports coming up with a coalition of nations. He said the battle should be an Arab ground war and U.S. air war.
“Let me make it clear,” Manchin said. “I believe ISIS is a grave threat to the region and could become a direct threat to the United States. We must confront and defeat them. I just do not believe that arming the Syrian opposition forces is the direct approach.”
Manchin gave three reasons for his opposition:
–U.S. weapons may not remain in the hands of the Syrians.
–no evidence that Syrian rebels would stay committed to the U.S.
–authorizing military support would draw the U.S. into a civil war “We won’t be able to end.”
Manchin also chided Congress for taking the ISIS vote as part of its continuing resolution to keep government funded. He said the votes should be separate.
The senator said he had not come to his decision easily and realized his vote will result in consequences.
“But I believe the people of West Virginia sent me here to make tough decisions and vote to do what is best not only for all West Virginians but for every American,” Manchin said.