Clinton: We need to have a debate on ISIS
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday that she believes President Donald Trump is right to call for a “debate” on the threat of ISIS.
Clinton said the issue is “one we need to talk about,” as the group continues to grow in strength and expand its network of supporters.
“The United States is a nation of laws, and we must enforce those laws,” Clinton said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“And we also need to debate this and figure out how we do it.”
While the White House has said the president has a duty to use military force if necessary, Clinton said there is a “double standard” that is used when a president uses military force to defeat an enemy that is advancing on American soil.
“I do think that, in terms of that double standard, it is very important that we have a discussion about what exactly the threat is, and what we should be doing,” Clinton added.
The Democratic presidential nominee said there are still many unanswered questions about ISIS, including the group’s leadership, their methods of fundraising and their recruitment.
“We don’t know exactly what they’re doing, and so we need a debate about the role that these groups play in the global jihad, the global threat,” Clinton told NBC.
Clinton also called on the Trump administration to stop sending arms to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Turkey, which are funding ISIS.
“So, for example, the president of the United States, who’s going to send arms to Egypt?
It doesn’t make sense,” Clinton noted.
The former secretary of state, a Democrat, has repeatedly argued for the use of a no-fly zone in Syria, but has said she would not agree to a no strike zone.
The group has also claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian jet on the Syrian border on Dec. 31, 2015, which killed all 224 people aboard.
The Obama administration has repeatedly called for a no fly zone in the war-torn country, which has been engulfed in conflict since 2014.
The administration has said a no kill zone would help deter attacks by ISIS and other groups, and have been hesitant to use air power against the group.
The Trump administration has called for more strikes, but it has yet to announce the size of the strike force.
