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Capitol View®
Mark Zdechlik

Franken and McFadden agree on Islamic State strategy

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Despite their campaign rhetoric, DFL Sen. Al Franken and his Republican opponent Mike McFadden are largely in agreement on what the U.S. response should be to the group known as ISIS or the Islamic State.

Franken said when President Obama addresses the nation tonight he needs to lay out a clear plan to stop ISIS that includes other nations, is limited in scope and does not involve U.S. troops in Syria. McFadden is calling for much the same. Both Franken and McFadden say they would be open to air strikes on Islamic State positions in Syria.

Obama needs to get specific about what the U.S. and its partners should do to combat the group ISIS, Franken said.

"In terms of getting a coalition together including actors in the region Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan; and making sure that we're talking about something that's limited, that doesn't get us mired in some kind of operation that goes on for years and years; and that doesn't involve ground troops,"  Franken said in an interview.

Both Franken and McFadden criticized Obama for saying  nearly two weeks ago during a White House briefing that he didn't have a strategy on ISIS.

Franken called the remark not one of "the president's finest moments." McFadden called it "unacceptable."

“After previously saying he has no strategy to deal with ISIS, President Obama should use tonight’s address to lay out a clear and specific plan to swiftly defeat this evil organization without putting U.S. boots on the ground, and have the support of our allies,” said Mike McFadden in news release.