House Speaker John Boehner said President Barack Obama’s request to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels “is a sound one” but cautioned more needs to be done to combat Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria.
“I frankly think the president’s request is a sound one. I think there is a lot more we need to be doing, but there is no reason for us not to do what the president asked us,” Boehner told reporters Tuesday.
House Republicans announced they will include authorization for a mission to train the Syrian rebels as an amendment to a government funding bill expected to pass this week. The mission is a central part of Obama’s strategy to take on ISIS.
However, members of Congress from both parties have repeatedly cautioned that the authorization should not be construed as approval to put combat troops on the ground. Republicans have also criticized Obama for not laying out a broader plan to defeat the Islamic extremists.
IN-DEPTH
- House GOP Moves to Authorize Training Syrian Rebels
- Splitting the Check: When Allies Helped Pay for Middle East War
- ISIS Threatens to Behead Iraqi Journalist, Is Holding Others Captive
-- Andrew Rafferty
