On the recordNovember 16, 2015
Tonight I rise in solidarity with the people of France in the aftermath of last Friday's horrific terror attacks in Paris. I also commend the French for their swift leadership in decisively and powerfully taking immediate action. They are delivering justice to those responsible for the cowardly attack on their innocent people. This latest attack wasn't just on France. No. This was an attack on all free nations targeted and threatened by the brutal and savage tactics of Islamic terrorists who oppose the basic freedoms and liberties of the free world. This is not an isolated incident or a final stand. Far from it. It could be France today and the United States tomorrow. I should point out that there is but one mandatory function constitutionally of the Federal Government. That is to provide for our national defense. This is a constitutional duty and a moral imperative that trumps any day of the week the charity of opening our doors to a Syrian who will blow himself or herself up on our streets in the name of Allah. I say, if an ISIS member wants to meet Allah, that we give them every opportunity to do so with a bomb from the air or a round of ammo from the end of a Navy SEAL rifle that you would never want to be on the wrong end of if you are the bad guy. The good news is this: It doesn't require an occupation or an enduring ground operation. I don't want that. No one wants that. But it does mean that our entire strategy must evolve quickly and effectively.…
