Legion National Commander: President makes right call on U.S. air strikes, Iraq must not fall

“A necessary step,” is how the head of the nation’s largest veterans service organization characterized President Obama’s decision to authorize U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State terrorists that are threatening U.S. personnel and Iraqi civilians in the war torn country which has been under siege since June. The mission also includes providing humanitarian assistance in the form of food and water.

“Nobody wants endless war,” American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger said. “But the Islamic radicals have no regard for human life and are intent on destroying every semblance of civilization that doesn’t fit into their evil ideology. Too many brave American men and women have sacrificed their lives and limbs in Iraq for us to disengage. We cannot isolate ourselves from what is happening in the world. 9/11 has proven that.”

With a current membership of 2.3-million wartime veterans, The American Legion, www.legion.org, was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national defense, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 13,000 posts across the nation.