Ernst urges Obama to aid fight against ISIS in Asian nations

Ahead of Obama’s trip to meet with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), herself a veteran who served during the Iraq War, sent the president a letter urging him to fight ISIS’ rise in Asia.
 
Responding to current concerns, including Chinese acts of aggression in the South China Sea and a deadly ISIS attack on Filipino forces, along with human rights issues, Ernst implored the Obama to focus on “crafting strategies and discussing policies to best counter the rise of ISIS in the region” during his meeting with Duterte.
 
In her dispatch, Ernst described how the U.S. had helped the Philippines achieve gains against Islamic extremist groups such as Abu Sayyaf, but how that progress appeared diminished as ISIS activity increases globally — most recently in the tragic deaths of 15 Filipino soldiers in a struggle waged against ISIS forces.
 
Ernst posed questions for Obama to consider, centering on the best possible use of five new U.S. bases in Asia: how to prevent the rise of ISIS in the South China Sea region and how the U.S. could augment Filipino forces’ specialized training.
 
“As we continue to witness the growing threat of ISIS at home and abroad, I believe we must do all that we can to support our allies and show U.S. strength to stop the spread of Islamic extremism,” Ernst said.