U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement on the one year anniversary of the beginning of U.S. airstrikes against ISIL (August 8, 2014).
“One year into the U.S. mission against ISIL, our servicemembers are doing their jobs but they’re still waiting on us to do ours. A debate in Congress by the people’s elected representatives and a vote to authorize this ongoing war is how we tell our troops that what they’re risking their lives for has purpose, has meaning, and has the support of the American people. Today, as a vigorous Congressional effort to challenge U.S. diplomacy regarding the Iranian nuclear agreement continues, the contrast between Congress’ indifference to war and its energetic challenge to diplomacy is most disturbing.”