Republican presidential hopefuls say destroying ISIS top priority

PTI
GREENVILLE, FEBRUARY 14

Top Republican presidential aspirants have agreed that defeating ISIS is one of the top priority for the US even as they sharply differed on the process to combat the terror outfit.
Frontrunner Donald Trump favoured America partnering with Russia to defeat ISIS, while Jeb Bush said a Sunni—led coalition along with special US forces would accomplish the job, and Ted Cruz did not rule out sending troops on the ground along with massive air power to defeat ISIS.
“We are going to have to hit very, very hard to knock out ISIS,” Mr. Trump said participating in the Republican presidential debate in this city in South Carolina, where Indian—American Nikki Haley is the Governor.
He said he would do this with Russia.
“This is the problem,” Mr. Bush, the former Florida Governor said as he opposed the idea of partnering with Russia to defeat ISIS.
“Russia is not taking out ISIS. They’re attacking the team that we’ve been training and the team that we’ve been supporting. It is absolutely ludicrous to suggest that Russia could be a positive partner in this,” he said, claiming that he has the right policy to defeat ISIS.
“I would immediately create a policy of containment as it relates to Iran’s ambitions, and to make it make clear that we are not going to allow for Iran to do what it’s doing, which is to move towards a nuclear weapon,” Mr. Bush said.
“We need to create a coalition, Sunni-led coalition on the ground with our special operators to destroy ISIS, and bring about stability,” said the former Florida Governor who is hoping to be the third from the Bush family to be elected as the US president this fall.
Mr. Cruz said there needs to be a focussed objective and a commander-in-chief, when it comes to defeating ISIS.
“We need overwhelming air power, we need to arm the Kurds who can be our boots on the ground, and if ground troops are necessary than we should employ them, but it shouldn’t be politicians demonstrating political toughness. It should be military expert judgement carrying out the objectives set out by the commander—in—chief,” Mr. Cruz said.
Senator Marco Rubio identified the threat posed by North Korea in the Asia—Pacific region as among the top threats to national security, followed by the growing threat of ISIS.
He said: “Violent extremists are operating or active in 40 countries. Some 80 countries are in different degrees of instability. And so, that’s just the crises overseas.”
Former Ohio Governor John Kasich differed with Mr. Trump on seeking Russian help to defeat ISIS.
“We have to make it clear to Russia what we expect. We don’t have to declare an enemy, rattle a sword or threaten, but we need to make it clear what we expect. Number one is we will arm the folks in Ukraine who are fighting for their freedom.

They deserve it. There will be no ifs, ands or buts about it,” he asserted.