Reps Zinke & Kinzinger Introduce Bill Requiring Strategy to Defeat ISIS

Press Release

Today, Iraq War veterans Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke (Navy SEALs) and Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Air Force) introduced legislation in the House that will require the Administration, and any future administration, to submit a report to Congress that details a strategy to destroy ISIS and its affiliates around the world. The "Comprehensive Strategy to Destroy ISIL Act of 2016" will require a report from the White House every two years.

"President Obama's policy in Iraq created power vacuums and is responsible for the rise and spread of ISIS and the refugee crisis," said Zinke. "The continual terrorist attacks around the globe will not stop until the United States gets serious about defeating and destroying ISIS, and that requires a detailed strategy. Any plan the president delivers must give our troops the right rules of engagement to win, and win decisively on the field of battle. The President has ignored ISIS since day one. If we don't get serious about the threats we face, it's only a matter of time before they attack America again."

"The horrific attacks in Brussels yesterday remind us all how very real the threat of ISIS continues to be on our safety and freedoms. As a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I believe national security is our paramount concern," Kinzinger said. "When it comes to the threat of radical jihadism, I take very seriously the importance of implementing an effective and coherent strategy to destroy ISIL. This demonic terror organization is not the "JV Team.' This legislation puts pressure on the President, and any future president, to lay out a plan of action to Congress."

This bill would require the elements of any strategy to focus on the progress of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, a plan for deployment of U.S. military assets to counter ISIS fighters and strengthen the capacity of allies in the region, and see how the U.S. government is using social media and other communication technologies to counter ISIS's propaganda and recruitment of foreign fighters.

Ryan Zinke retired at the rank of Commander after 23-years with the U.S. Navy SEALs. In 2004, Zinke served as the acting Commander of Joint Special Forces in Iraq. Zinke's time with the SEALs included multple assignments as a Commander with SEAL Team Six and One, huting war criminals in Bosnia and Kosovo, and overseeing BUD/S. He retired in 2008 with two Bronze Stars.

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