Charlie Rangel: ISIS Is ‘Not a Threat to Our National Security’

“I don’t see it [ISIS] as a threat to our national [security]— there is a cancer in this part of the world and it is true that America, and probably Europe, has no idea of the dept of feeling and discord in this area for religious reasons. Notwithstanding that, it appears as though they could be overall a threat, not directly to us -- but for us to be involved in a military way ...

Do you have any idea who the drones and bombs we’re dropping are killing? I challenge you to tell me who are they killing? We haven’t the slightest idea. We talk about rebels and the enemy -- it is amazing, something in the New Yorker, what kind of rebel are you, how much are you paid, which side you fought for, have you got U.S. weapons ...

Listen, it is a confusing thing and if indeed the president and those who support him in terms of this war, if they’re right, bring it to the Congress and convince the United States of America that there’s a threat to our national security. And when you do that, be prepared to pay for it, be prepared to make a sacrifice. Have a mandatory military so that we all share in defending ourselves and also pay for with war attacks.”