Sen. Mitch McConnell says the U.S. has a serious, long-term commitment ahead of it in Iraq and Syria if the ISIL threat is to be eliminated.
Reacting to President Obama’s address Wednesday night, McConnell said he expects White House staff to begin briefing the Senate immediately on the military and intelligence requirements of the wider campaign.
"I'm glad the president has brought a new focus to the effort against ISIL. He needs to take this responsibility head on," McConnell said. "This Congress, the next Congress, and the next administration have serious work ahead as we consider this multi-year commitment and what it will take to defeat ISIL."
President Obama outlined a major expansion of operations in the region, which will include a sustained air war and the deployment of 475 more military advisors to Iraq, but McConnell said the administration needs to lay out specific plans for how it expects to the achieve the eventual goal of building and maintaining a viable moderate opposition in Syria.
