Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) says he believes President Barack Obama would get bipartisan support if he comes up with a strong plan to deal with the militant Islamic group ISIS, which has taken responsibility for beheading two American journalists.
While in Plattsburgh Wednesday, Schumer said the execution of the second journalist sent shockwaves around the world.
"This is barbaric," Schumer said. "It is just beyond the pale. It turns your stomach, you sort of ache for the families and for the individuals who were innocent people who were subjected to this. And it's being done to intimidate the United States and the West. Well, we can't be intimidated."
While the president has ruled out ground troops to fight ISIS, Schumer said weapons like air strikes, drones and Tomahawk missiles have been successful elsewhere, including helping cause the downfall of Al-Qaeda.
The senator said he is hopeful the president will come sup with a similar plan and the American people should be patient and wait to see what the president proposes.
Schumer says he's also concerned about Russia and the situation in Ukraine. Obama is in Europe to discuss Russia's provocations with NATO allies.
He says he believes there will be limits on the actions Russian leader Vladimir Putin can take.
"Putin is a bully; we know that," Schumer said. "But we also know that Russia depends on economic trade with the West, and that will be some restraint on what Putin can do."
On a quick trip to Estonia, Obama pledged NATO support to Baltic nations who fear Russia could threaten their sovereignty.
Schumer says the proposal for an immediate strike force in the Baltics won't have an immediate impact, because it will take some time to get approval from all the NATO countries and then put the plan in place.