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Moulton: Islamic State is a National Security Threat to the US and Our Allies

November 17, 2015

Rep. Seth Moulton (D., Mass.) called the Islamic State a national security threat to the United States and its allies in an interview on Morning Joe Tuesday.

Willie Geist asked Moulton about his thoughts from President Obama's press conference in Turkey on Monday.

"Well, look, I have said for some time that ISIS is a national security threat to the United States and to our allies and we need a comprehensive plan to combat ISIS. I'm not confident we have that right now," Moulton said.

Moulton said that while dropping bombs and putting boots on the ground will help, there must be a discussion on how to fill the political vacuum that is left when the troops leave.

Moulton is a former Marine Corps officer who served four tours in Iraq during the surge. He helped Iraq become a stable place, but the political instability began when the advisers were pulled out of the prime minister's office. Moulton said there was a point that the Iraqi army did not trust the government.

Moulton talked about his April visit with the House Armed Services Committee and said he did not like what he saw.

"It was disheartening to see so much of what we had fought for, and frankly, achieved, just gone to waste because we didn't have a political plan for the aftermath," Moulton said.

When asked if Obama's annoyed tone at the press conference worried him, Moulton said that he was concerned that the U.S. is not doing more to create political and diplomatic solutions.

"We have got to be clear to the troops that we are sending in what their long-term mission is. I don't think that we have made that clear," Moulton said.