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Oklahoma's Congressional Delegation Reacts To President's Islamic State Address

Speaking from the State Floor in the White House on September 10, 2014, President Obama addressed the nation on the situation in Iraq and the United States’ strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL, a terrorist organization.
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Speaking from the State Floor in the White House on September 10, 2014, President Obama addressed the nation on the situation in Iraq and the United States’ strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL, a terrorist organization.";

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla. 4) says he would vote to give President Obama any authority and resources he needs to address the growing threat from the Islamic State.

“I have no doubt that such authorization would be overwhelmingly supported by both houses of Congress and on both sides of the aisle,” Cole said in a statement. “Americans, our friends and our enemies need to see the president and Congress united in their determination to destroy this very dangerous foe.”

The president announced Wednesday night he plans to send 475 more U.S. troops into Iraq to help security forces battle militants and secure diplomatic facilities.

Cole says even though the president said he has authority to act without Congressional approval, a unified strategy involving both the legislative and executive branches would be the preferred approach.

“In the days ahead, I am certain that Congress will work with the president in a bipartisan manner to preserve our safety, security and freedom,” Cole said. “But the president must remember that success in war requires decisive executive leadership.”

U.S. Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla. 5) says he hopes the president backs up Wednesday night’s strategy Thursday with relevant intelligence details in a briefing to members of Congress.

“I am grateful the President recognized the real threat ISIS terrorists pose to the Middle East and our nation,” Lankdford said in a statement. “When international terrorists have the desire, motivation and the means to carry out their murderous intent, we cannot wait until they kill thousands of Americans before we take their threats seriously.”

But U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) was more critical, saying in a statement the President missed an opportunity to present a “clear and compelling plan.”

“I wanted him to be more honest with the American people, to say that ISIL has evolved into an extremist army with the potential to attack our homeland and to deliver a strategy to reflect this real concern,” Inhofe said. “The President's strategy instead re-plowed the ground of what he has already done and requested what Congressional leaders have already offered.”

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Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
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