Richard Blumenthal actually said...

"Israel is an extremely close ally of ours, a special ally."

"We have concerns about China's increasing presence in Djibouti."

"Djibouti is a strategic location for China, with half its oil imports passing through the Mandeb Strait providing a potential choke point."

"General Votel, Marines have arrived in Syria to establish an outpost near Raqqa to fire artillery in support United States-backed forces fighting to retake Raqqa from ISIL."