14th Congressional candidates disagree on how to combat ISIS

Neither candidate for the 14th Congressional District is ready to put American troops on the ground in any of the ongoing international conflicts.

But while Democratic challenger Dennis Anderson's reluctance stems from not repeating "bad decisions" in Iraq and Afghanistan, incumbent Republican Randy Hultgren of Winfield said he can't commit soldiers to situations where Congress hasn't been included in the strategy.

Airstrikes in Syria and Iraq have increased in recent weeks as the U.S. continues to lead the fight against the Islamic State - a terrorist group known by many names, including ISIS and ISIL - and the group's attempted takeover of the region.

Anderson, a Gurnee resident, said he's not a fan of targeted bombings or putting the U.S. into a role as the world's policeman.

"If we go in with our might, and we could, we could probably crush ISIL, but then what?" Anderson told the Daily Herald's editorial board. "At what point do you say, 'If we take care of Saddam Hussein, we've got ISIL. If we take care of ISIL, what do we have then?,' I have never heard anybody describe a coherent idea of a good end."

Hultgren told the editorial board he supports airstrikes against ISIL and U.S. training of Syrian rebel forces. Doing nothing to stop the group is not an option, but a full plan must include input from Congress.

"We need to do something," Hultgren said. "It's just incredible evil that is right before us, flaunting the cruelty and brutality of terrorism. I will, whenever possible, support our president, especially when it comes to protecting our nation from foreign threats. But I want to know the strategy. I want to know the endgame. I want to know what our generals are saying, but I just don't think that's happened yet."

Hultgren said he wouldn't rule out putting American troops on the ground, but he won't vote in support of such a move unless generals in command explain why that level of force is needed.

"I want to win," Hultgren said. "If we can do that with Syrian rebels on the ground and airstrikes, I'd prefer to do that. If it's going to take more, then I need to have more information. What the president is acting on is really 9/11 authorization. He's been so outspoken against so much of what happened under President (George W.) Bush, and yet he is still using the authorization that President Bush had for this current activity. I think (Congress) deserves more involvement."

Hultgren and Anderson agree the best long-term strategy involves a consortium of countries in the impacted region playing a large role in combating ISIL's takeover.

But Anderson said he doesn't support a large-scale, long-term American presence in the region.

"That area of the world has come to rely on American intervention," Anderson said. "It's a burden that we've created for ourselves. And it's not one that I think we can necessarily continue to carry."

Anderson said military involvement to address humanitarian crises, such as the group of Iraqis trapped on top of a mountain in August, are appropriate. But engagements fueled by politics, oil or economic concerns are inappropriate.

"It is not within our power, as mighty as we are, to clean up every dirty, little mess in every corner of the world," Anderson said. "I think ISIL becoming the force in that area of the world would be disastrous, certainly for the people in the ISIL-controlled areas. But there is no military solution to these things. We took (Iraq) apart and tried to initiate a form of government, which was unfamiliar to them - a western, civil society - and we're now seeing the entirely predictable blowback."

The 14th Congressional District includes parts of DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Lake counties.