U.S. Sen. Mark Udall on Monday apologized for invoking the names of slain American journalists while pleading for restraint in dealing with Islamic state terrorists.
Udall, a member of the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, mentioned the pair Saturday in Grand Junction during his first debate with his Republican challenger, Congressman Cory Gardner. The candidates were asked how they would address the threat of terrorism while ensuring the safety of U.S. citizens and protecting their privacy.
“We are pushing back ISIL now as we sit here with airstrikes and special forces in Iraq,” Udall said, referring to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
“I can tell you, Steve Sotloff and James Foley would tell us, ‘Don’t be impulsive. Horrible and barbarous as those executions were, don’t be impulsive, come up with a plan to knock ISIL back.’ “
in September and August, respectively, with their executioners threatening more violence if the United States continued its airstrikes.
Udall’s comment was widely retweeted and reported Monday. In the afternoon, his campaign released the following statement:
“When addressing ISIL during this weekend’s debate, I should not have invoked the names of James Foley and Steven Sotloff. It was inappropriate, and I sincerely apologize,” he stated.
“My intent was to emphasize the importance of taking the right next steps as we confront this serious threat. It is critically important for the United States, our allies and countries in the region to beat back ISIL.”
Gardner was the first candidate to be asked about terrorism, and he also mentioned the journalists but not by name.
He said President Obama’s foreign policy was a failure, and he mentioned problems in Iran, Iraq, Russia, Ukraine and Syria.
“It is happening because we have a president who went before the country and said that terrorists are nothing but a bunch of (Junior Varsity) organizations,” Gardner said. “He called a terrorist organization that is beheading Americans ‘JV.’ “
Eight months ago in an interview with the New Yorker, as the equivalent of “a JV team,” saying “if a JV team puts on Lakers uniforms, that doesn’t make them Kobe Bryant.”
Gardner also said during the debate that Udall believes ISIL “doesn’t pose a threat to the homeland even though he receives briefings every day.”
“I said,” Udall countered, “that ISIL does not present an imminent threat to this nation, and it doesn’t, but if we don’t respond, they will be a threat.”
During the debate, Gardner did not call out Udall for individually naming the journalists, but he joined the chorus on Monday.
“Americans have watched in horror in recent weeks as two of our fellow countrymen have been brutally executed by terrorists, and it’s outrageous that Senator Udall would put words into the mouths of dead Americans,” Gardner said. “Furthermore, it’s deeply troubling that he views a terrorist organization like ISIL as not an imminent threat to America.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com or twitter.com/lynn_bartels
