Republican Florida congressional candidate Brian Mast, a U.S. combat veteran, is calling on Syrian refugees to take up arms against the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL) terror group, according to video of the candidate’s remarks published by the Shark Tank.
Mast, speaking during a Republican debate in the race to replace outgoing Rep. Patrick Murphy (D.), called on Syrian refugees to stay in the country and fight to destroy IS.
"Those refugees should be taking up arms, being trained by their government in combating ISIS," said Mast, who lost his legs during an IED strike in Afghanistan. "If ISIS was cutting a swath across the United States of America, then everyone of us would be out there with our wives, with our children, defending our country until our last breath, or the last breath of every ISIS member."
Mast was responding to questions about whether he supports U.S. boots on the ground in Syria.