Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) said he remained \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d\u009d that the additional forces weren\u2019t close enough to the front lines and couldn\u2019t serve as spotters to strengthen the airstrike mission. \u201cThat is the kind of assistance the Iraqis need, but the president has refused to provide,\u201d\u009d Mr. McCain said.<\/p>\n
Members of Mr. Obama\u2019s party were also unsettled. Rep. Adam Schiff, (D., Calif.) said that while he supports Mr. Obama\u2019s move, he wasn\u2019t hopeful about the political changes the Iraqis must make themselves in a country starkly divided along sectarian lines.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the absence of these reforms, there is little that we can do to convince Sunnis to cast out ISIL,\u201d\u009d Mr. Schiff said, using an alternate term for Islamic State. Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.), agreed, saying the U.S. can\u2019t go it alone. \u201cAmerica possesses the greatest fighting force the world has ever known, but we can\u2019t put the Middle East back together by ourselves.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n