@ungrexx rt tfte lflniteh Stutexffiux[iugtrrn, B@ 2[515
July 8,2015
President Barack ObamaThe W4rite House1600 Pennsyh.ania Ar.enue
NW\X/ashington, DC 20500
Deat Ptesident Obama:
Recent setbacks in the fight against the Islamic State of Itaq
and the Levant(ISIL) have led to calls for a substantiall,v
incteased U.S. commitment in Iraq,including the deplovmeflt of
thousands of Amedcan troops and the use of ourground forces in
combat roles. \)fle writc to urge vou to reject these
misguidedappeals.
ISIL poses a dire thteat to our allies in the region and is
tesponsible for thegruesome deaths of innocent Americans. The
organizatton has also killed untoldnumbets of S1,fi2n and ltaqi
cir.ilians, systematicallv tatgeted ethnic minotities andengaged in
shocking human dghts abuses. For these reasons, it is cetainly in
outnational intetest to halt ISIL's advance, and to that end, your
administtation hasassembled a broad allied coaLition totaling more
than 60 nations committed to doingso.
Yet, as you have tepeatedly stated, we canflot fight the Iraqi
military's batdesfor them. "Airstdkes ate effective," Secretary of
Defense Ashton Cartet said recentl1,,"but neither they not anvthing
we do can substitute for the Itaqi fotces' will tofight." We
sttongly agree. While the Iraqi military and the Itaqi people desen
e outsupport in this sttuggle, an enduring victory over ISIL will
onlr. be possible if theydemonsttate a rcal and lasting commitment
to defeat our mutual foe. If we fight inthek stead, our success
with be tempotan' and out gains will be ftagile.
Yout r\dministration is cuttentlv reviewing U.S. military
options in thisconflict and has recently announced the deplovment
of up to 450 additionalpersonnel to assist in training Iraqi
forces. We recognize that better training anddiffetent tactics may
be required to turn the tide in Iraq. However, u,'hile'nveencoufage
you to teexamine the U.S. goyernmeflt's approach, rve strongly ufge
vou toremaj.n ltm in rejecting calls for a substantial American
gtound combat commitmentin the fight against ISIL.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
Thank you for your attention to our views. America's history has
repeatedlyshown that though we can give our al[es the atms and
expertise to fight our commonenemies, we cannot impat the
detetmination necessary to ptevail on thebattlefield. We appreciate
yout prudent leadetship in this conflict and look forwatdto
continuing to wotk with you to support the Iraqi people, our
regional allies andour brave men and women in uniform in the fight
against the Islamic State.
Sinccrely,
MarkMember of Congtess Member of Congtess
N{ark PocanN'Iember of Congtess
Ruben GallegoIvlembcr of Congress
Ta&Nlember of Congtess
Julia Brou,nleyNlember of Congress
Tony Cd
n Conyets Jr.mbet of Congress
alvaMembet of Congress
Membet of ConfressTed LieuMember of ConEess
Sam FarrN{embet of Congtess
N{ichael NI. HondaN,Iembet of Congtess
F. Napolitanober of Congtess
Peter A. DeFazioN{ember of Congress mber of Congress
:e Mengt of Con
mber of Congress
tte D. Clarke
r of Congress
Nlcmber of Congress
Member of CongressD. Schakorvsky
of Congtess
