BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 6 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today on Saudi Arabia’s offensive request for the United States to put American combat troops on the ground in Iraq to fight Islamic State terrorists: 

“I find it remarkable that Saudi Arabia, which borders Iraq and is controlled by a multi-billion dollar family, is demanding that U.S. combat troops have ‘boots on the ground’ against ISIS.  Where are the Saudi troops?  With the third largest military budget in the world and an army far larger than ISIS, the Saudi government must accept its full responsibility for stability in their own region of the world. Ultimately, this is a profound struggle for the soul of Islam, and the anti-ISIS Muslim nations must lead that fight. While the United States and other western nations should be supportive, the Muslim nations must lead.”