Vitter to Obama: Stop ISIS from killing Christians

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) urged President Obama to provide Congress a “coherent” strategy to stop the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from killing Christians in Iraq.

“The Obama administration hasn’t laid out a coherent overall strategy to effectively attack these terrorists yet,” Vitter said Wednesday. “I’ve strongly urged him to do this and to ask Congress for a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force.”

{mosads}Vitter blasted the terrorist group for the “deplorable” killing of Christians.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to Christians standing up for their beliefs in Iraq in this ongoing struggle,” Vitter said. “The thought of ISIS murdering people for being Christians is absolutely deplorable.”

The administration has launched airstrikes against ISIS, which has gained control of large portions of Iraq and Syria. Some lawmakers have called on the president to request a formal declaration of war from Congress when lawmakers return after the midterm elections next month.

Vitter said Obama has a constitutional obligation to get an authorization of military force since some of the airstrikes will occur in Syria, where the United States has not been fighting a war.

“I think this is constitutionally necessary since we’re in a whole new country — Syria — and it’s the right thing to do in order to properly engage Congress and the American people,” Vitter said.