Bush urges U.S. declaration of war against ISIL
Republican presidential contender Jeb Bush said on Sunday, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Paris, the U.S. should “declare war” on the Islamic State, which is blamed by the French for the deadly attacks.
“We should declare war, and harness all of the power that the United States can bring to bear, both diplomatic and military, of course, to be able to take out ISIS,” the former governor of Florida said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” charging the Obama administration viewed the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as a “law enforcement exercise.
“We have the capabilities of doing this,” Bush said. “We just haven’t showed the will.”
Asked by NBC host Chuck Todd what President Barack Obama should do in the next few weeks, Bush ticked off key strategic points.
“Declare a no-fly zone over Syria,” he said. “Directly arm the (Kurdish) Peshmerga forces in Iraq. Reengage with the Sunni tribal leaders. Embed with the Iraqi military. Be able to create safe zones in Syria. Garner the support of our European allies and the traditional Arab states.”
“Lead,” Bush said, “That’s what I want him to do. I want him to lead.”
He also said he “absolutely” supported more U.S. combat forces on the ground in Syria.
Bush didn’t call for halting the administration’s plans to take in as many as 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next year, as some other Republicans have since the attacks, but said he would prioritize Christians over other refugees.
“I do think we have a responsibility to help with refugees after proper screening, and I think our focus ought to be on the Christians, who have no place in Syria anymore,” Bush said. “They’re being beheaded, they’re being executed by both sides.”
Bush also criticized other GOP presidential candidates, saying their positions on Syria were “all over the map,” and tried to draw a contrast between himself and rivals Donald Trump and Ben Carson.
Asked whether he’d feel comfortable with Trump or Carson in the Oval Office right now, Bush said he wasn’t sure.
“The words that I hear them speaking give me some concern,” he said.