The war against radical Islam isn't working, and the United States should at least increase its airstrikes against the Islamic State, U.S. Sen. John Boozman said Friday.
"I do think [President Barack Obama's] administration is really underestimating the threat to America," the Republican from Rogers said after he signed a book of condolences to Paris at Little Rock City Hall.
"One of the mistakes we make is we don't believe what ISIS says," he said, adding that the terrorist group says it's going to establish a caliphate and target Israel, the U.S. and the West.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, said this week that he plans to introduce a bill authorizing the use of military force, including ground troops, against the Islamic State. ISIS militants were responsible for last week's bombings that killed 130 people in Paris.
To fight the Islamic State militants, Obama has been relying on congressional authorizations given to President George W. Bush for the war on al-Qaida and the invasion of Iraq.
When asked about Graham's legislation, Boozman said the war against radical Islam is not working at this point, and "we can see that with the events in Mali that have been unfolding [Friday] and all these previous things."
At least 20 people were killed in Friday's attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali, according to The Associated Press. An extremist group led by a former al-Qaida commander claimed responsibility for the attack in the former French colony.
"Lindsey has got ideas as to what we need to do as far as a path forward. Others have different ideas," Boozman said.
"But I do think we need to have a discussion as to what our plan is," he said. "Nobody seems to know what the plan is against ISIS.
"Certainly, at the very least today, we need to step up our airstrikes and degrade them [ISIS fighters] in that manner," Boozman said. "When you look at the number of airstrikes prior to the French attack, it was minimal compared to when you really are at war."
He said he wants to meet with other members of Congress, military leaders and other experts such as retired Gen. David Petraeus, and discuss "what exactly we do."
Boozman's remarks come two days after Conner Eldridge, a Democratic candidate for Boozman's Senate seat, said in a written statement that "the recent attacks in Paris are the latest evidence that the threat from terrorists is real, that Congress must declare war on ISIS, and that we must complete a thorough review of all background check systems before any refugee is resettled in the U.S.
"I am frustrated by the president's foreign policy as well as a Congress that has failed to show any responsible leadership on this issue," said Eldridge, of Fayetteville.
When asked about Graham's legislation, Eldridge spokesman Brad Howard said Graham "has made it clear that he wants to immediately deploy as many as 20,000 American troops, and that is not something Conner will support at this time.
"We must first exhaust every other military option -- including a no-fly zone and increased targeted airstrikes with our coalition partners -- before deploying American boots to the front lines," Howard said in a written statement.
On Monday, Obama ruled out sending U.S. troops against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, saying it would be "a serious mistake" that would require a long-term occupation in the region.
Instead, the Democratic president said the U.S. will concentrate on military power in the form of airstrikes and working with local forces, as well as economic pressure and attempts to stabilize failed states where the extremist group has thrived.
In regard to Graham's proposal, Curtis Coleman -- a Republican seeking Boozman's Senate seat -- said in a written statement that he will "support only those military actions that have a clearly defined objective, that are without question in defense of the United States and are committed to nothing less than winning.
"But if we can't defend our own borders, all of this is for naught, which makes Sen. Boozman's vote to fund Barack Obama's executive amnesty through the cromnibus [$1.1 trillion federal spending bill in December 2014] even more disturbing. Arkansans can count on me to always vote against legislation that weakens our national or border security," said Coleman, of Little Rock.
Boozman's campaign manager Chris Caldwell said Coleman's claim that Boozman voted to fund Obama's executive amnesty "is a ridiculous and irresponsible claim.
"Numbers USA, the leading advocate to end illegal immigration, has given Senator Boozman an A+ lifetime rating for fighting against Obama's amnesty policy and pushing for stronger border security. His record speaks for itself," said Caldwell.
Frank Gilbert, an Arkansas Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate, said he would oppose Graham's proposal.
"In my opinion, the only appropriate way to commit our troops to combat is after a declaration of war requested by the president and passed by the Congress," Gilbert said in a written statement. "Even the War Powers Act is not an appropriate tool for a case like this. We are not responding to a sudden and devastating attack on our country."
"Only when strong majorities in both houses ... are ready to support the actions of a trusted commander in chief, should we take military action," said Gilbert, who is from Tull.
Metro on 11/21/2015