Udall apologizes for invoking slain US journalists in debate

Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) apologized for suggesting two slain American journalists would support a more cautious approach to tackling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) during a debate this weekend. 

“When addressing ISIL during this weekend’s debate, I should not have invoked the names of James Foley and Steven Sotloff,” Udall said in a statement on Monday. “It was inappropriate, and I sincerely apologize.”

{mosads}His apology comes after he drew criticism from his Republican opponent, Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who said Udall “put words in the mouths of dead Americans.”

“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 in a statement released Monday. “Furthermore, it’s deeply troubling that he views a terrorist organization like ISIL as not an imminent threat to America.”

During their debate this weekend, Udall, a member of the Senate Armed Services Intelligence committees, warned against rushing into a military fight against the terrorist organization, saying, “ISIL does not present an imminent threat to this nation.”

He said that the two journalists beheaded by the group would support his position.

“I can tell you, Steve Sotloff and James Foley would tell us: Don’t be impulsive,” Udall said. “Horrible and barbarous as those executions were, don’t be impulsive, come up with a plan to knock ISIL back.”

Udall clarified in his Monday statement that he intended to “emphasize the importance of taking the right next steps” to confront what he now refers to as a “serious threat.”

“It is critically important for the United States, our allies and countries in the region to beat back ISIL. These terrorists are a serious threat to U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East, and Americans are counting on their leaders to get this right,” he said. “I will continue to push the administration and demand that our country’s approach is both tough and smart.”