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         Democrats Clash in Debate Focusing on National Security Issues

   by William Gallo

   Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opened a Democratic
   Party presidential debate Saturday by saying the Islamic State
   extremist group "cannot be contained, it must be defeated."

   The debate, being held in the early presidential nominating state of
   Iowa, is expected to focus largely on national security issues, coming
   a day after deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, France.

   The forum began with a moment of silence for the 129 people killed and
   hundreds injured in the Paris gun and bomb attacks, which have been
   claimed by the Islamic State.

   ''

   US resolve needed

   Clinton said the U.S. needs to "have resolve that will bring the world
   together to root out the kind of radical jihadist ideology that
   motivates groups" like the Islamic State.

   "This cannot be an American fight, although American leadership is
   essential," said Clinton, who stressed the U.S. is "not at war with all
   Muslims, we're at war with violent extremists."

   In his opening statement, Sanders said he was "shocked and disgusted"
   by the attack, vowing that "this country will rid our planet of this
   barbarous organization called ISIS," an alternate name for the Islamic
   State.

   As he routinely does, Sanders also criticized Clinton for her 2002
   congressional vote in support of the Iraq war.

   "I would argue that the disastrous invasion of Iraq, something I
   strongly opposed, has unraveled the region completely and led to the
   rise of al-Qaida and to ISIS," Sanders said.

   The debate also includes ex-Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who is
   lagging behind Clinton and Sanders in opinion polls. O'Malley said the
   U.S. needs "new thinking" and "new leadership" to respond to security
   threats like the Islamic State.

   O'Malley also said he supports the U.S. accepting more refugees from
   conflict-stricken Middle Eastern countries.

   "I was the first person on this stage to say we should accept the
   65,000 refugees that were fleeing ISIL," O'Malley said, using another
   acronym for the group. "And I think that needs to be done with proper
   screening."

   "There are other ways to lead in this world than to be at the opposite
   end of a drone strike," he said.
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   -security-issues/3058703.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/democrats-clash-in-debate-on-national-security-issues/3058703.html