Texas Governor Rick Perry delivers remarks during the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), on March 7, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. UPI/Molly Riley |
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AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Just days after being arrested and booked on abuse of power charges, Texas governor Rick Perry is publicly calling for airstrikes against the Islamic State.
Perry, a Republican and the longest-serving Texas governor, was indicted last week for coercion and official oppression after publicly vetoing $7.5 million in funding to the state public integrity unit, an agency of public corruption prosecutors which investigates wrongdoing by elected officials.
Ten minutes later, after having his fingerprints and mugshot taken, Perry was back to business and Thursday found him publicly calling on President Barack Obama to increase airstrikes on the Islamic State in Iraq, claiming the group poses a direct threat to the United States, according to USA TODAY.
"Nothing less than an airstrike to destroy ISIS forces is required," Perry said at an event thrown by the National Review and conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.
Perry, who has been accused of militarizing the United States' southern border after he deployed over 1000 National Guard troops to deal with the influx of refugee children from Central America, was expected to speak on immigration, but instead focused on ISIS, saying they "need to be eliminated, and they need to be eliminated now."
Perry called for less limited and targeted airstrikes, arguing for more thorough assaults.
"When they talk about limited airstrikes, they place a great emphasis on the word 'limited,' yet clearly more airstrikes are necessary," he said. "Nothing less than a sustained air campaign to degrade and destroy ISIS forces is required."
Aside from airstrikes, Perry called on Obama to send in US special forces and intelligence teams.
Perry, speaking publicly on foreign policy, international defense, and issues of Homeland Security, is consistent in keeping with rumors that he is considering a second run for the GOP presidential nomination.
He brought the issue back home though by claiming he's worried ISIS could attack the United States through an unsecured southwestern border.
"There's a very real possibility they could already be coming," Perry said.
"We need to have clear and compelling forces, both law and enforcement and otherwise, to send the message that the border is secure," the potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate said, according to CNN.
