Reid: Fight against ISIS shouldn’t be political

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he was disturbed that some lawmakers are using the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) for political gains.

“It’s disturbing that at a time like this, some are talking cheap shots at the president,” Reid said on the Senate floor Thursday. “Now is the time for us to come together again, as defenders of freedom and democracy, to defeat ISIS.”

{mosads}Reid made the remarks after President Obama laid out his strategy to fight the terrorist group. Some lawmakers have called on Obama to get congressional approval to use military force, but the president has said he doesn’t need it to take action.

Obama announced that the United States would lead airstrikes by coalition forces and that there will be no combat boots on the ground in the Middle East. Reid said he supported that plan, adding that Obama isn’t repeating past mistakes made by former President George W. Bush. 

“Matters like this are no time for political posturing,” Reid said. “We must draw together as a nation.”

At 4 p.m., all senators will attend a classified White House briefing on the ISIS threat.