King: US must not play ISIS’s game by deploying troops

The United States would play into the hands of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Boko Haram if it deployed troops in response to the merger between the two groups, Sen. Angus King (I-Vt.) said Monday on CNN’s “New Day.”

King emphasized the perils posed by the groups.

“These guys have 7th century ethics and 21st century weapons. That’s what’s so dangerous,” he said.

But he cautioned against launching a full-scale military operation, warning that it could be exactly the overreaction that they seek — and one that wouldn’t work.

“If you want to make a gift to IS tomorrow, send in U.S. troops,” he said, using an alternative acronym for ISIS. “They want this to be a war of the west against Islam. This has to be Arabs, Muslims, taking the fight to them in Mosul, in Tikrit.”

King backed President Obama’s current strategy, which involves assisting Arab fighters on the ground with air strikes, logistical support and training. But he said that sending in ground troops, which the president has ruled out despite dissent from some lawmakers, would “backfire.”

“We’re the invaders, we’re the infidels, we’re the crusaders—all of that historic reference,” he said.

“That would make their day.”

A new audio tape made public over the weekend showed Boko Haram’s leader pledging support to ISIS. The Daily Beast reported in January that the ties between the two groups were growing, but there had not been an explicit confirmation until now.http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/29/isis-and-boko-haram-s-unholy-online-alliance.html