Maine’s congressional delegation and candidates agreed overall with President Obama’s call on Wednesday for an international coalition to combat Islamic State, but differed about whether using airstrikes, and training and equipping groups for ground combat against the terrorists, will be enough.

The most forceful criticism of the president came from Democrat Shenna Bellows, who is trying to unseat Sen. Susan Collins; and Bruce Poliquin, the Republican candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Democrat Mike Michaud, who is running for governor.

Although Bellows supports calls for an international coalition, she opposes military intervention and said she has “grave concerns” about the president’s strategy of airstrikes and arming rebel fighters, believing the approach will embroil the United States in sectarian civil war.

“We’ve been down this road before at great costs to our country without lasting security benefits,” Bellows said in an interview. “Long-term peace and stability in the region requires that the governments most impacted by the cycle of violence take an active role in confronting it.”

Poliquin, who is facing Democrat Emily Cain in November, said in a written statement that the best way to protect Americans is to “stay on the offensive against global terrorist networks.”

“The president’s wavering position helped give rise to the savage ISIS terror network which recently beheaded two Americans, broadcast for the world to watch in horror,” Poliquin said. “America must be consistent and predictable in its efforts to stop and eliminate terrorist groups wherever they take root. Our allies and other countries will join the United States in this global struggle when we have demonstrated our long-term, systematic commitment to battling terrorism.”

Cain said in a written statement that she supports limited military intervention, saying Congress should work with the president to find a solution that defeats ISIS and addresses the humanitarian crisis.

“I support airstrikes against ISIS, but I do not support the United States putting service members on the ground directly in harm’s way,” Cain said.

U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who serves on the Senate’s armed services and intelligence committees, commended the president for laying out a strong case for world action against Islamic State, also known as ISIL, and other terrorist groups.

“I am encouraged that we have secured the public support of several Arab partner nations in our airstrikes against ISIL in Syria, and I continue to support the administration’s effort to train and equip vetted Syrian opposition members to take the fight to ISIL on the ground,” King said in a written statement. “While we can provide airpower, the ground combat must ultimately be undertaken by the people in the region – not American forces.

Sen. Susan Collins said the president’s plan to counter the extremist Islamic is a long time in coming.

“For years, I urged the president to designate a lead agency to work with moderate Muslims to develop a strategy to counter this perversion of Islam,” Collins said in a written statement. “Today, the President did emphasize the importance of directly confronting the violent Islamist that drives ISIL and similar terrorist groups. I urge moderate voices particularly in Arab countries, such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, to be more vocal in addressing this threat.”

Collins also is concerned that the president has not sought or received congressional approval for the military action.

“Senior Administration officials have said that the military operations against ISIL could take years, not months,” she said. “Therefore, the administration should seek an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) to continue U.S. airstrikes against ISIL, and Majority Leader (Harry) Reid and Speaker (John) Boehner should call Congress back into session so that we can consider a carefully drawn AUMF and any other authorities needed to counter this real and growing terrorist threat.”

Michaud criticized the president for failing to lay out a clear strategy that defines the scope of military action and the resources to be committed by allies. Such a strategy should be developed in consultation with Congress and the American people, he said.

“I was glad to hear the president speak so bluntly today about the threat ISIS presents and the need for a unified, global response,” Michaud said in a written statement. “I said last week that – despite attending multiple classified briefings – I did not feel the administration had a clear strategy for achieving our goals and conclusively keeping our brave men and women out of yet another open-ended military conflict. I still feel that way after the President’s remarks today.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree pressed for a political solution – not a military one – led by Middle East countries.

“I believe it should be up to the countries in the region to take the lead and deal directly with this crisis, and I do not support extended U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Syria at this time,” Pingree said in a written statement. “Here at home, we should continue to be vigilant and I support a strong counter-terrorism effort to protect ourselves from terrorist attacks here in the United States.”

Pingree’s 1st Congressional District challenger, Republican Isaac Misiuk, said in an interview that ISIS isn’t an imminent threat to the U.S.

Misiuk said he doesn’t want the U.S. to become “the world police,” but he is open to having more conversation about deploying ground troops to confront ISIS and criticized Obama for ruling it out.

“Airstrikes are not an end game. No war has ever been won by airstrikes alone,” Misiuk said.

Misiuk also expressed concerns about arming rebel groups in Iraq and Syria. “We don’t know what the future is going to hold and whether those weapons will be used against our troops, if we are ever deployed in that region,” he said.

Randy Billings can be contacted at 791-6346 or at:

rbillings@pressherald.com

Twitter: @randybillings