The Boston Herald: Rep’s High-Profile ISIS Plan Triggers Whispers About Future

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) has laid out a four-point plan to counter the Islamic State in Iraq that he said addresses a major flaw in the Obama administration’s strategy — a move stoking speculation about the first-term Democrat’s future political plans for higher office.

“Even though he’s only in his first congressional term, Congressman Moulton has already emerged as a leading voice on Iraq policy on Capitol Hill,” said Nancy Lindborg, president of the U.S. Institute of Peace, where Moulton spoke yesterday.

Moulton’s plan calls for:

• clearly defining Iraq’s political end state;

• enabling political reforms;

• conditioning ongoing U.S. military support on Iraq’s political progress and;

• ensuring U.S. funding to support the reforms.

Moulton called aspects of his plan “politically tricky,” particularly conditioning military support on Iraq’s political progress. But he said it’s necessary to prevent revolving door U.S. deployments.

“Iraq is dependent on our support, but that dependence wanes with every political victory — and so does our leverage,” Moulton said. “It has been a mistake to provide so much military support without demanding any political reforms in return.”

It’s the second major foreign policy speech that Moulton, a Marine vet and House Armed Services Committee member, has directed at Obama and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, whom he has endorsed.

“I’ve talked in general terms with some folks on the Clinton team,” said Moulton, adding: “I don’t know many — I don’t know any foreign policy professionals that are with (Donald) Trump at the moment.”

Moulton’s willingness to challenge even those within his own party — a reputation which began with his successful bid to unseat longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. John Tierney — has spurred speculation that he may seek a role in Clinton’s administration should she win in November.

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