Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/384313
ByAlanFram TheAssociatedPress WASHINGTON It'sapolit- ical rule of thumb that the public often rallies behind the president when the country faces peril from abroad. Sometimes, that can help candidates from his party in the next elec- tion. So far, that doesn't seem to have happened for Pres- ident Barack Obama and congressional Democrats as he ramps up a U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. Obama warned in a na- tionally broadcast speech last week that the mili- tants present a menace to Americans in the Mid- dle East and could pose "a growing threat" to the U.S. itself. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel amplified that theme Thursday, telling Congress that the group is capable of dispatching rad- icalized Americans back to the U.S. for attacks. Yet with congressional elections less than seven weeks away, there's no sign yet that the confrontation with the militants has im- proved Obama's drab pub- lic approval ratings. Boost- ing his numbers could give Democrats an important lift as they battle to retain Senate control and limit potential House losses. "I wish," Rep. Nick Ra- hall, D-W.Va., said Thurs- day when asked if he de- tected signs of burgeoning support for Obama that might rub off on his own candidacy. All this can change by Election Day. But Rahall, whofacesatoughre-election battle, was among candi- dates from both parties who said this week that the fight againsttheIslamicStatemil- itants seldom comes up on the campaign trail. Rep. Steve Daines, R- Mont., favored to win his state's open Senate seat, said voters are concerned about the Islamic State and "the lack of a strategy that will effectively deal with this serious threat." . If anything, it's Repub- licans who are starting to use the broader topic of national security as a cam- paign theme. The National Republican Congressio- nal Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm, has started running TV ads against four Democratic candidates in Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota and New York accusing them of be- ing lax on terror. "Foreign policy is pop- ping up as a bigger issue, and I think it relates to a sense of insecurity people are feeling," said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., who chairs the committee. "It's part of a bigger narrative that's unfolding about things not working right." The ads drew criticism from Rep. Steve Israel, D- N.Y., who heads the House Democrats' campaign or- ganization and accused the GOP of politicizing the issue. "Politics used to end at the water's edge," he said in a written statement. "It is repugnant that Republi- cans would try to exploit this threat to divide Amer- icans at a time when our nation should be united." Democrats say the bat- tle against the Islamic State militants is too fresh and complicated an issue for Obama to have mar- shaled public support and improved his image, and for Democratic candidates to have benefited. Only this summer has the group topped the news with its seizure of territory in Syria and Iraq and its atrocities — including beheadings of two American journalists. Sen. Richard Durbin, D- Ill., said that when Obama delivers a speech on the subject to the United Na- tions General Assembly next week, "it's going to start sinking in that it's more than just a nighttime speech from the White House, that there's a plan. And I think he will gain respect as a commander in chief leading our nation into a very challenging and difficult situation." Polls show that solid ma- jorities favor U.S. military action against the Islamic State's fighters. But there's no evidence of that im- proving the public's view of Obama. In a CBS News-New York Times poll conducted after Obama's Sept. 10 speech on his plan for battling the ex- tremists, majorities said the president isn't tough enough against the mil- itants and lacks a clear plan to counter them. And for the first time, more dis- approved than approved of how he's dealing with ter- rorism. Nearly 6 in 10 dis- approved of his handling of foreign policy. That poll was among six major surveys this month showing that half or more of Americans disapprove of the overall job Obama is do- ing as president, compared to around 4 in 10 who ap- prove. Those are dismal numbers that could make it harder on congressional Democrats in November. POLITICS De mo cr at s ge tt in g no b oo st from fight with extremists EVANVUCCI—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS President Barack Obama on Friday signs H.J. Res 124Continuing Appropriations Resolution, which includes appropriations to train and arm moderate Syrian rebels. ECPA/JEAN-LUC BRUNET This image provided Friday by the French Army's video and photo department ECPAD shows two Rafale jet fighters fly over Iraq on Friday. By Jamey Keaten The Associated Press PARIS France is back at America's side in conduct- ing military strikes in Iraq. More than a decade after spurning President George W. Bush's war against Sad- dam Hussein, France on Friday became the first country to join U.S. forces pounding targets inside Iraq from the air in recent weeks — this time in pur- suit of militants of the Is- lamic State group. Flying from the United Arab Emirates, two French Rafale jets fired four laser- guided bombs to destroy a weapons and fuel depot outside the northern city of Mosul, part of the territory the militants have overrun in Iraq and neighboring Syria, officials said. An Iraqi military spokes- man said dozens of extrem- ist fighters were killed in the strikes. A French mili- tary official said a damage assessment had not been completed, while showing reporters aerial images of targets hit. Officials said it was at a former military installation seized by the group. One analyst said the French action was more symbolic than substantive — France's military means in the region are limited — but it could give political cover for other allies to join in and show that the U.S. is not acting alone in a coun- try still sown with deadly violence 11 years after Sad- dam's ouster. "We are facing throat- cutters," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council that was called to show support for Iraq's government in bat- tling the miolitants. "They rape, crucify and decapi- tate. They use cruelty as a means of propaganda. Their aim is to erase borders and to eradicate the rule of law and civil society." For all his political and economic troubles at home, French President Francois Hollande has again showed he will use force to fight Is- lamic militants to help a be- leaguered government. Other such operations in Iraq would continue in coming days, Hollande said, "with the same goal — to weaken this terrorist or- ganization and come to the aid of the Iraqi authorities." "In no case will there be French troops on the ground: This is only about planes that, in liaison with Iraqi authorities (and) in co- ordination with our allies, will allow for a weakening of the terrorist organiza- tion," he said. France joins strikes against Islamic State WAR ON TERRORISM By Astrid Galvan The Associated Press Associated Press TUCSON, ARIZ. The fed- eral government refuses to say whether prosecutors in Yuma, Arizona, have scaled back a years-old program that guarantees jail time for most immigrants caught crossing the border illegally and which law enforcement officials say is crucial to public safety. Reports that federal pros- ecutors have stopped some prosecutions under Oper- ation Streamline surfaced nearly two weeks ago when Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake wrote a let- ter to Attorney General Eric Holder seeking information on the status of the zero- tolerance program that cir- cumvents the civil immi- gration system and lumps together months' worth of criminal proceedings into one day for immigrants caught crossing the border illegally. Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot said in a letter to the senators that he had been informed that federal prosecutors in Yuma are no longer going after first of- fenders. But the government has been completely silent on the issue. Public affairs of- ficials from the Department of Homeland Security, Jus- tice Department and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have all refused to answer questions about whether the program has been scaled back. Brett Worsencroft, pres- ident of the Border Patrol union for Yuma Sector bor- der agents, said the U.S. At- torney's Office has in fact ended prosecutions of first- time offenders. "Operation Streamline is like one of the last strong- holds we have as a deter- rent. Our manpower is dwindling on a daily ba- sis," Worsencroft said. "The fence can only do so much." Worsencroft said the pro- gram was a large factor in the steep decline in border- crossers in Yuma because it sent a message that even first-time offenders would serve jail time and because it allowed agents to focus their attention on drug smugglers and other dan- gerous criminals. Getting rid of prosecu- tions for first-time offend- ers is a "free ticket into the U.S." for those who cross the border without legal status, he said. Operation Streamline is used as a deterrent. Fed- eral judges sentence large groups of immigrants within days of their arrival into the U.S. in fast court proceedings that include an arraignment, plea and sen- tencing in the span of one day. Most immigrants who participate in the program plead guilty to entering the country illegally and receive sentences of 30 to 120 days. ARIZONA Feds mum on prosecution of illegal border crossers SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM | NEWS | 7 A