{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912014406/http://pearce.house.gov/press-release/pearce-us-must-target-and-eliminate-isil-threat-1", "PEARCE: US MUST TARGET AND ELIMINATE ISIL AS A THREAT", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "NM", "Steve Pearce", "P000588", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC (September 10, 2014) Congressman Pearce offers the following response to the President\u2019s speech on the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist group.\n\u201cISIL is a serious threat.\u00a0They pose a very real risk to the safety and stability of the Middle East, and the United States,\u201d said Pearce.\u00a0\u201cIn the last six months, as ISIL has gained momentum, our nation has been absent a leader and a plan to face this radical group head on.\u00a0The United States needs a comprehensive strategy to answer and destroy this threat permanently.\u00a0Tonight, I think the President laid out a fairly clear strategy to deal with ISIL.\u00a0I appreciate and support the President acknowledging the threat and tasking our military to engage this terrorist organization.\u00a0I am hopeful that the plans outlined tonight will be the decisive actions needed to answer and eliminate ISIL as a threat.\u201d\n\u201cISIL has taken advantage of a void in Iraq left by the United States leaving before the mission was complete.\u00a0The President is currently working to end U.S. operations in Afghanistan before the mission is complete and the nation is stable.\u00a0How can we expect this time to be any different?\u00a0As Commander and Chief, the President holds the lives of every soldier, sailor and airman in his hands.\u00a0These selfless individuals will sacrifice anything to accomplish an order for their Commander and Chief, including their lives. If we say we are going to terminate ISIL, and risk the lives of our troops to do it, we must follow through.\u00a0We must complete the mission. If actions follow the Presidents words, the strategy highlighted tonight will have the ability to do just that.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cOperating virtually unchecked in the greater Syria and Iraq region for nearly six months, ISIL has captured stockpiles of weapons, armor and vehicles from the Iraqi and Syrian Governments.\u00a0 The Iraqi Security Forces have shown little ability to stand up to the group, and little opposition appears to exist in the void in Syria between Assad and ISIL.\u00a0 Prior to the speech, I was hesitant to further arm Syrian militias based on this information.\u00a0However, in combination with military advisors and support from a unified coalition, I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to assist Syrians fight for their freedom and keep arms out of the hands of ISIL.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cIn the coming days, I hope the Administration will continue to develop its strategy to target and destroy ISIL anywhere they exist.\u00a0I urge the President to be steadfast and defiant in the face of this threat, and to only further risk the lives of our servicemen and women if he intends to accomplish his goal and fully destroy ISIL.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912014406/http://pearce.house.gov/press-release/pearce-us-must-target-and-eliminate-isil-threat-1"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.0762309432029724, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}