MOSCOW, September 10 (RIA Novosti) – The United States is not in a position to police the world when it comes to fighting the Islamic State (IS) group in the Middle East and requires allies to step up their actions, Congressman Walter Jones said, responding to Obama’s August campaign against the IS in Iraq.
“I want the allies, whether they be in Europe or the Middle East, to start stepping up instead of America stepping up,” Jones said in interview with RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
“We are what’s called a debtor nation. We cannot pay our bills without raising the debt ceiling so we can borrow money from foreign governments. I would like to see the rich dropping bombs.” Jones, a strong opponent of the Iraq War and American military action without congressional approval, said that “We cannot police the world.”
“I want to do everything possible to defend this country against ISIL or any other jihadist group,” said Jones. “We think we can always dictate to other counties... We cannot. Let’s defend our own country.”
Jones and Representative Jim McGovern were the lead sponsors of a July resolution which called on the President to seek authorization from Congress prior to the further deployment or maintenance of US combat forces in Iraq.
While members of Congress were on recess, Barack Obama authorized approximately 150 airstrikes in Iraq. Obama briefed members of Congress on his strategy for dealing with the Islamic State on Tuesday and will deliver a speech to the American people on Wednesday.
Jones is a representative of North Carolina and sits on the House Armed Services Committee.
